-NRLF 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

GIFT  OF 
THE    FAMILY  OF   REV.   DR.   GEORGE    MOOAR 


/  A 

r  <f . 


MEMORIALS 


OF 


MARY  W.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE 


AN  D 


LYDIA  W.  SHATTUCK 


They  rest  from  their  labors  and  their  ivorks  do  follow  them.™ 


UNIVSRSiTY 

OF 


BOSTON 
BEACON  PRESS:   THOMAS  TODD,  PRINTBS 

1890 


GIVE  HER  OF  THE  FRUIT  OF  HER  HANDS, 
AND  LET  HER  OWN  WORKS  PRAISE  HER 
IN  THE  GATES." 


156 


THE  Alumnss  of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary  and 
College,  at  their  annual  meeting,  June  26,  1889,  held 
a  commemorative  service,  at  which  the  substance  of 
the  following  paper,  by  HELEN  S.  NORTON,  was  read. 
With  some  revision  and  additional  facts,  it  is  pub- 
lished by  vote  of  the  Alumns. 


MARY   W.   (CHAPIN)    PEASE. 


AN  inexpressible  sense  of  personal  loss  rests  upon 
us  as  we  write  "  In  Memoriam  "  before  the  name  of 
our  beloved  friend  and  teacher,  Mary  W.  (Chapin) 
Pease.  She  is  held  in  fond  remembrance  throughout 
the  wide  world  by  those  who  have  been  blessed  by 
her  love,  instruction,  and  example,  and  her  unex- 
pected death  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  May  9,  1889,  has 
filled  many  hearts  with  sorrow.  That  she  should  have 
been  far  from  home  and  nearly  all  the  friends  who 
would  have  ministered  so  gladly  to  her  in  those  last 
hours,  makes  the  grief  more  bitter.  Her  association 
with  Mary  Lyon  as  pupil  and  teacher;  her  long  con- 
nection with  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary  as  its  honored 
principal ;  the  service  rendered  to  it  during  her  whole 
married  life ;  and  the  fact  that  she  was  planning  for 
a  volume  of  great  value  (a  biographical  record  of 
the  alumnae)  make  her  conspicuous  in  work  for  the 
higher  education  of  women,  and  demand  far  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  A  life  which  has  given  nearly 
fifty-two  years  of  devoted  labor,  comprehensive  thought 
and  suggestion,  to  the  work  and  growth  of  Mount 
Holyoke  Seminary,  is  no  common  life.  A  great  ben- 
efit would  be  conferred  upon  the  cause  of  education 
and  philanthropy  if  a  faithful  record  could  be  given 
the  world  of  the  extent  and  aim  of  her  influence. 


6  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

In  the  contemplation  of  a  worthy  life,  it  is  natural 
and  interesting  to  note  the  inherited  traits,  and  also 
the  surroundings  which  shape,  the  character.  In  this 
instance  we  find  a  line  of  noble  ancestors,  belonging 
to  the  sturdy  New  England  race  of  men,  industrious, 
painstaking,  philosophic,  who  had  laid  their  hands  in 
benediction  on  the  head  of  the  little  girl  who  opened 
her  eyes  to  the  sunlight  on  that  June  day  in  1820  in 
the  home  of  Hon.  Oliver  Chapin  at  Somers,  Connect- 
icut. Her  father,  probably  of  Welsh  ancestry,  was  a 
descendant  of  Deacon  Samuel  Chapin  who  lived  in 
Dorchester,  took  the  freeman's  oath  in  Boston,  June  2, 
1641,  was  much  engaged  in  public  affairs,  and  emi- 
grated to  Springfield  in  1642.  Hon.  Oliver  Chapin 
graduated  at  Williams  College  about  1809,  an-d  re- 
turned as  tutor  for  two  years.  He  studied  medicine, 
but  owing  to  self-distrust  never  engaged  in  its  prac- 
tice. He  devoted  much  time  to  teaching,  taking 
young  men  into  his  family  to  prepare  for  college  and 
for  business. 

Her  mother,  Anna  Pierce,  of  Cornwall,  Con- 
necticut, belonged  to  an  influential  family,  and  was 
a  woman  of  eminent  piety,  showing  in  daily  life  the 
fruits  of  the  Spirit,  "love,  joy,  and  peace,"  in  a  re- 
markable degree.  Mary  Williams  Chapin  was  named 
for  her  grandmother,  who  was  the  grand-daughter  of 
Rev.  Stephen  Williams,  D.D.,  of  Longmeadow,  well 
known  in  the  history  of  Massachusetts  on  account  of 
his  capture  by  the  Indians,  and  his  remarkable  escape 
after  months  of  captivity.  She  was  related  also  to 
Rev.  Eleazar  Mather,  President  Edwards,  and  Rev. 
Solomon  Stoddard,  of  Northampton,  to  Rev.  John 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  7 

Davenport,  Rev.  John  Warham,  and  President  Wool- 
sey.  She  was  the  second  child  and  eldest  daughter 
in  a  family  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  she  outlived. 
Her  education,  begun  in  the  excellent  district  school 
of  Somers  —  her  father  taking  great  care  in  the  selec- 
tion of  teachers  —  was  continued  in  the  academy  in 
Cornwall,  Connecticut,  and  later  in  Abbot  Academy, 
in  Andover.  She  was  summoned  home  to  the  bed- 
side of  a  dying  mother,  and  at  thirteen  years  of  age 
was  left  to  minister  to  her  father,  two  brothers,  and  a 
sister.  She  always  spoke  with  love  and  gratitude  of 
the  training  in  habits  of  carefulness  and  exactness 
received  from  her  aunt  Annie,  her  father's  sister. 

Mr.  Chapin  occupied  many  positions  of  honor 
and  trust  in  civil  and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  his 
daughter  Mary  often  assisted  him  in  copying  deeds 
and  other  papers,  thus  doubtless  developing  the  abil- 
ity to  keep  records  and  compile  facts  for  which  she 
was  so  justly  noted  in  after  years.  A  lifelong  friend 
writes  that  it  is  not  strange,  with  such  a  paVentage, 
that  the  daughter  should  possess  many  excellent 
traits. 

Her  father  and  mother  were  remarkably  unas- 
suming, and,  with  their  daughter,  were  characterized 
by  humility,  faithfulness,  sincerity,  and  moral  courage 
to  maintain  the  right.  Mr.  Chapin  watched  with 
interest  the  efforts  of  Mary  Lyon  to  found  Mount 
Holyoke  Seminary,  and  he  went  with  his  daughter 
to  apply  for  her  admission  before  the  completion 
of  the  building.  They  entered  the  front  door  by 
a  ladder,  receiving  a  most  cordial  greeting  from 
Miss  Lyon,  who  little  dreamed  she  was  welcoming 


8  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

her  successor.  But  there  was  no  room  for  her  till 
a  vacancy  occurred  the  next  February,  when  she 
began  her  life  at  the  seminary. 

Miss  Lyon  soon  recognized  her  fidelity,  prompt- 
ness, and  efficiency,  and  chose  her  for  an  assistant  in 
arranging  many  details  of  the  family  and  school.  For 
a  time  she  occupied  the  same  room  with  Miss  Lyon, 
and  in  this  daily  association  learned  the  thoughts, 
plans  and  methods  of  the  earnest  and  devoted  founder 
who  thus  trained  the  young  teacher  for  the  duties  the 
Lord  had  in  store  for  her.  In  after  years  it  was 
a  great  comfort,  in  her  life  of  hard  work,  that  Miss 
Lyon  so  fully  confided  in  her  in  those  early  days,  and 
introduced  her  to  dear  friends  as  "  my  special  daugh- 
ter." In  the  summer  of  1840  she  was  stricken  with 
typhoid  fever,  and  for  weeks  her  life  was  despaired 
of.  She  was  absent  from  the  seminary  two  years, 
and  during  the  period  following  her  convalescence 
wrote  to  friends  expressing  doubt  whether  she  ought 
to  return,  as  her  father  was  burdened  with  care,  and 
she  was  greatly  needed  at  home.  Her  heart  was  even 
then  taking  up  the  burdens  of  others,  ready  to  relin- 
quish all  that  hindered  such  service.  She  returned, 
however,  graduated  in  1843,  and  was  at  once  called 
back  to  her  alma  mater  as  teacher.  Those  first 
years  were  emphatically  successful,  particularly  in  her 
favorite  branch,  mathematics,  in  Latin,  in  classes  for 
Bible  teaching;  and  she  became  familiar  with  all  the 
details  of  the  complicated  school  and  family  arrange- 
ments. Unwearied  in  her  efforts  as  an  assistant,  she 
watched  the  growth  of  the  young  seminary,  and  the 
testing  of  plans  hitherto  untried. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


When  Miss  Lyon's  sudden  death  occurred  in 
1849,  the  terrible  blow  laid  new  and  heavy  burdens 
upon  her  associates.  Miss  Mary  Whitman  was 
appointed  principal,  but  failing  health  caused  her 
to  resign  within  a  year.  Miss  Sophia  D.  Hazen, 
her  associate  principal,  sailed  for  a  mission  field 
in  Persia,  in  1850,  as  Mrs.  David  T.  Stoddard,  and 
Miss  Chapin  and  Miss  Sophia  Spofford  were  left  to 
bear  the  responsibility.  Miss  Chapin,  though  acting 
principal,  was  unwilling  to  have  her  name  appear 
with  that  title  in  the  catalogue,  so  sure  was  she  that 
some  other  person  would  be  found  who  could  serve 
the  seminary  better  than  herself.  In  November,  1852, 
the  trustees,  believing  that  her  marked  executive  abil- 
ity fitted  her  for  the  position,  appointed  her  principal. 
While  she  was  engaged  in  matters  of  business  con- 
nected with  the  departure  of  students  for  vacation, 
looking  after  baggage  and  arranging  for  the  stages 
(in  those  days  a  formidable  undertaking),  a  note  was 
handed  her.  The  pressing  duties  of  the  hour  led  her 
to  defer  reading  it,  and  when  congratulations  were 
offered,  she  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  forgotten 
note  announced  the  action  of  the  trustees.  The 
duties  and  responsibilities  were  so  heavy,  she  felt  she 
could  not  meet  them,  and  spent  the  night  in  tears ;  but 
yielded  to  the  advice  of  friends  and  the  evident  lead- 
ing of  Providence,  and  for  thirteen  years  guided  the 
affairs  of  the  seminary  "  with  profit  to  it  and  honor  to 
herself."  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  Miss  Lyon, 
a  few  months  previous  to  her  death,  named  Miss 
Chapin  as  one  competent  to  be  her  successor. 


io  MARY  w.  (CHAP IN)  PEASE. 

Miss  Spofrbrd,  her  associate,  in  a  recent  letter 
speaks  of  the  preparation  and  ability  Miss  Chapin 
possessed  for  this  work,  and  says,  "  The  credit  is  due 
her,  at  an  important  time  in  the  history  of  the  institu- 
tion, of  keeping  in  operation  the  system  established 
by  Miss  Lyon." 

Those  days  were  days  of  poverty,  when  a  mistake 
in  the  management  would  have  resulted  in  failure  ;  for 
the  plans  of  Miss  Lyon  were  unique,  and  without  her 
wisdom,  success  was  not  fully  assured.  There  were 
also  years  of  increased  financial  burdens  caused  by 
the  civil  war,  when  life  was  supremely  earnest,  and 
mind  and  body  were  taxed  to  the  utmost.  It  was 
Miss  Chapin's  economy,  energy,  patience,  hopefulness, 
and  watchfulness  that  made  all  move  on  so  smoothly. 
Her  mind  could  easily  grasp  the  greatness  of  a  subject, 
and  also  the  details,  and  she  had  the  rare  gift  of  pre- 
senting the  duties  of  her  associate  teachers,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  students,  in  such  a  clear  and  attractive 
manner  that  they  were  easily  led  into  hearty  cooper- 
ation. The  common  duties  of  the  household  were 
invested  with  a  charm  by  her  sweet  spirit  lifting 
them  above  the  thought  of  menial  service.  She  was 
dignified,  but  always  approachable ;  her  voice,  though 
weak,  was  penetrating  and  ever  sweet ;  her  earnest 
"  Good  morning,  young  ladies,"  had  real  heartiness 
and  love  in  it.  Her  rare  common  sense,  her  appre- 
ciation of  the  capabilities  of  others  and  charity  for 
their  faults,  were  very  marked.  She  accorded  to  all 
their  rights ;  was  firm  in  her  own  opinions,  but  never 
dogmatic.  Her  reproofs  were  given  so  wisely,  so 
kindly,  yet  with  such  evident  reluctance,  that  she 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  II 


won  the  hearts  of  the  offending  by  her  confidence, 
and  they  seldom  disappointed  her  expectations.  Miss 
Chapin's  enthusiasm  was  contagious,  and  the  merry 
twinkle  of  her  expressive  eyes  often  revealed  how 
keenly  she  enjoyed  an  amusing  incident,  and  put 
the  whole  household  in  good  humor.  She  was  one 
of  those  rare  souls  who  are  content  to  work  out  of 
sight,  allowing  others  to  have  the  credit  of  the 
results,  and  with  tireless  energy  sought  to  carry 
out  the  progressive  plans  of  Miss  Lyon.  To  these 
efforts  were  chiefly  due,  among  other  improvements, 
the  addition  of  the  north  wing,  which  furnished 
lecture,  laboratory,  and  other  public  rooms,  besides 
accommodations  for  one  hundred  students  ;  the  en- 
largement of  the  library  in  1855;  the  increased  facil- 
ities for  teaching  astronomy;  the  establishment  of 
fuller  courses  of  lectures  by  men  eminent  in  depart- 
ments of  geology,  physics,  chemistry,  history,  and 
physiology.  Light  gymnastics  were  introduced  in 
place  of  the  old-time  calisthenics,  and  the  course  of 
study  was  extended  from  three  to  four  years. 

Miss  Chapin's  executive  ability  was  conspicuous 
in  plans  for  celebrating  the  completion  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  year  of  the  seminary,  and  with  her  usual  self-for- 
getfulness  she  sought  to  give  prominence  to  those 
who  in  past  years  had  been  connected  with  it  as 
teachers  or  advisers.  Afterward  she  was  associated 
with  Miss  Fiske  in  preparing  an  attractive  volume 
which  was  a  fitting  memorial  of  all  that  could  be 
reproduced  of  that  delightful,  intellectual,  and  spirit- 
ual feast. 


12  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

After  fifteen  years  of  devoted  labor  in  charge 
of  the  seminary,  Miss  Chapin  resigned,  and  May  17, 
1865,  married  Claudius  B.  Pease,  of  Somers,  Connect- 
icut, returning  to  the  scenes  of  her  childhood  and 
becoming  the  center  and  joy  of  a  charming  Christian 
home.  She  still  carried  the  interests  of  the  seminary 
on  her  heart,  giving  to  it  valuable  thought  and  service, 
and  it  has  been  a  source  of  regret  with  many  that  she 
was  not  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

For  many  years  she  was  president  and  after  her 
marriage  was  secretary  of  the  Memorandum  Society, 
an  organization  formed  by  Miss  Lyon  in  the  first  year 
of  the  seminary  for  the  purpose  of  securing  and  per- 
petuating facts  in  the  history  of  its  members,  who 
might  be  graduates  or  other  students.  A  society 
catalogue  was  published  every  five  years,  and  a  small 
membership  fee  was  paid  to  defray  expenses.  Mrs. 
Pease  prepared  the  catalogue  of  1877,  and  her  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  all  the  classes  for  the  first 
thirty  years  fitted  her  especially  for  the  undertaking. 
The  plan  previously  followed  was  somewhat  changed ; 
the  excellent  results  secured  justified  the  change, 
though  it  involved  much  extra  labor  in  arranging 
the  classes  by  years  and  including  all  graduates ; 
the  number  of  these  at  that  time  was  1,604.  The 
whole  number  of  names  was  2,341.  To  trace  the 
history  of  those  who  had  failed  to  report,  and  who 
had  in  most  cases  changed  not  only  their  residences 
but  also  their  names,  was  no  trifling  task;  but  there 
were  only  nine  members  of  whom  no  information  was 
obtained,  and  most  of  these  were  heard  from  soon 
after  the  catalogue  was  published.  Probably  at  that 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  13 

time  no  other  institution  in  our  country  possessed 
so  full  and  accurate  a  record  of  its  graduates.  Mrs. 
Pease  addressed  a  letter  to  the  alumnae  at  the  close 
of  this  labor,  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken, 
revealing  the  affection  she  still  held  for  the  scattered 
daughters  of  Holyoke: 

"  MY  DEAR  FRIENDS  :  I  cannot  express  to  you  the 
fullness  of  the  pleasure  it  has  given  me  to  prepare  this 
catalogue.  Old  memories  have  been  deeply  stirred. 
I  have  seemed  to  live  over  all  these  forty  years  that 
have  passed  since  I  first  entered  within  those  hallowed 
walls  in  the  winter  of  1837-38,  a  young,  timid  girl. 

"  Nearly  all  those  whom  I  revered  and  loved  as 
teachers,  and  many  of  those  early  classes,  have  passed 
from  the  scenes  of  earth.  One  name  only,*  of  the 
teachers  of  that  first  year,  remains  unstarred  —  a  name 
deservedly  held  in  honor  for  a  long  and  successful 
teacher's  career.  Those  noble  first  trustees  and  their 
no  less  noble  wives  who  were  such  a  '  tower  of 
strength '  to  her  who  was,  in  the  words  of  our  earliest 
and  best  poet,  *  the  breathing  soul  of  these  vanished 
hours  '  —  they  are  all  gone  save  one. 

"  Many  of  you  were  my  pupils,  endeared  to  me  in 
many  ways.  How  familiar  your  names  seem !  Dis- 
tinctly I  see  you  each  one  as  in  days  long  past.  I  can 
never  forget  your  many  acts  of  kindness,  your  uniform 
courtesy,  your  cheerful  cooperation  and  ready  obedi- 
ence, appreciated  all  the  more  for  the  deep  conscious- 
ness of  my  own  unfitness  to  bear  the  unsought  burden 
of  responsibility  that  Providence  seemed  so  plainly  to 


*  That  of  Miss  Caldwell,  afterward  Mrs.  J.  P.  Cowles. 


14  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

lay  upon  my  shoulders.  And  you  who  were  asso- 
ciated with  me  as  teachers  nobly  and  faithfully  shared 
those  burdens  and  helped  bear  those  responsibilities. 
For  your  sympathy,  kindness,  and  aid  as  pupils  and 
as  fellow  teachers,  I  have  always  held  you  in  grateful 
remembrance,  and  gladly  embrace  this  opportunity 
to  tell  you  how  much  I  thank  you.  Nor  would  I  fail  to 
give  a  word  of  greeting  to  the  younger  daughters  of 
our  alma  mater,  those  whom  I  have  never  known  face 
to  face,  but  whose  pleasant  letters  in  response  to  mine 
have  made  me  feel  that  we  are  not  strangers,  and 
whose  aspirations  have  assured  me  that  they  are 
worthy  daughters  of  Holyoke. 

"  I  need  not  tell  you  how  much  pleasure  I  have 
found  in  reading  your  letters ;  how  I  have  enjoyed  the 
glimpses  they  have  given  me  of  your  lives,  your 
homes,  and  your  varied  experiences.  Many  of  you 
have  been  led  through  deep  waters.  Most  tenderly 
have  I  sympathized  with  you  as  I  have  read  your 
'story  of  loss,  of  sorrow,  and  of  faith  in  the  unseen 
Hand.'  My  own  faith  has  been  strengthened  by 
your  expressions  of  peace  and  trust. 

"  As  I  look  back  and  see  all  the  way  in  which 
the  Lord  our  God  has  led  the  '  beloved  seminary ' 
these  forty  years,  in  faithfulness  and  love,  my  heart  is 
iilled  with  gratitude,  and  the  conviction  is  strength- 
ened that  it  belongs  to  God,  and  is  under  his  especial 
care.  Was  it  not  established  for  him  ?  How  many 
of  us  have  heard  that  revered  and  sainted  one  say, 
'  Every  brick  in  these  walls  is  consecrated  to  God ! ' 
How  many  of  us  can  remember  her  earnest  prayers  in 
its  behalf!  and  has  he  not  wonderfully  blessed  it? 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  15 

What  a  history  it  has !  What  a  record  do  we  find 
in  the  lives  of  its  pupils !  The  dear  Lord  may  chas- 
ten it,  as  he  has  in  the  past ;  he  may  severely  try  the 
faith  of  those  who  have  it  in  charge,  as  he  has  often 
done;  but  have  not  his  chastenings  been  in  love?  and 
is  not  our  faith  strong  that  if  all  who  have  its  manage- 
ment continue  to  realize  that  its  mission  is  to  give 
large  culture  of  mind  and  heart,  that  that  culture 
may  be  used  in  earnest  work  for  the  Master  —  do  we 
not  believe  that  if  they  are  thus  true  to  their  trust,  to 
it  shall  be  given  the  honor  so  earnestly  desired  for  it 
by  the  great  heart  of  its  noble  founder  of  '  standing 
till  the  millennium,'  and  being  '  an  efficient  instru- 
ment in  hastening  on  and  ushering  in  the  latter  day 
glory?'  .  .  . 

"  It  is  for  us  who  know  the  value  of  the  seminary 
to  do  what  we  can  to  aid  it  in  its  onward  and  upward 
course.  I  am  sure  we  may  feel  that  anything  we  can 
do  to  add  to  its  facilities  by  contributing  to  its  funds 
or  its  cabinets,  or  by  interesting  others  in  its  behalf, 
is  effort  worthily  bestowed.  And  not  alone  by  dona- 
tions can  we  do  it  essential  service.  We  can  guard 
its  reputation.  We  can  enlighten  those  who  are 
ignorant  of  its  real  claims  upon  the  sympathy  and 
confidence  of  the  Christian  public.  We  can  commend 
it  to  those  who  are  seeking  for  their  daughters  just 
such  a  training  as  it  aims  to  give,  and  we  can  encour- 
age and  perhaps  aid  young  ladies  of  talent  and  prom- 
ise to  avail  themselves  of  its  advantages.  I  have  been 
interested  in  learning  that  there  are  now  in  the  school 
thirty  of  the  daughters  of  former  pupils. 


16  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE, 

41  Above  all,  let  us  not  forget  to  commend  the 
institution  in  all  its  interests  to  the  care  and  keeping 
of  our  Heavenly  Father,  especially  asking  wisdom 
and  guidance  for  those  who  direct  its  affairs.  And 
just  here  I  have  a  message  to  you  all  from  her  on 
whom  the  burden  of  responsibility  rests.  It  is  this : 
1  Pray  daily  and  earnestly  for  us.  The  strength  of  the 
seminary  is  in  the  prayers  of  its  friends.' 

"  Will  it  comfort  and  strengthen  you  in  hours  of 
trial  to  know  that  at  your  Holyoke  home  there  is  an 
almost  daily  mention  in  prayer  of  '  all  who  have  ever 
bowed  around  this  family  altar? ' 

"  And  now,  beloved,  may  God  himself,  and  our 
Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  whom  all  full- 
ness dwells,  direct  all  your  ways,  perfect  that  which 
is  lacking  in  your  faith,  and  strengthen  you  with  all 
might  according  to  his  glorious  power,  and  may  the 
very  God  of  peace  give  you  peace  always  by  all  means, 
and  sanctify  you  wholly,  and  may  your  whole  spirit 
and  soul  and  body  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Faithful  is  he 
that  calleth  us,  who  also  will  do  it. 

"  Yours  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  affection, 

MARY  W.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE." 

The  Memorandum  Catalogue  of  1887  was  also 
edited  by  Mrs.  Pease.  About  one  half  of  the  number 
of  Holyoke  students  had  never  joined  the  society, 
and  in  addition  to  facts  for  the  catalogue,  she  began 
collecting  material  for  a  biographical  record  of  these 
as  well  as  of  its  members.  The  time,  strength,  and 
devotion  given  to  the  work  can  be  little  understood 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  1 7 

by  those  unacquainted  with  the  scope  of  her  plans. 
She  was  as  desirous  of  learning  the  residence  and 
facts  of  interest  concerning  each  student,  as  if  she 
were  a  near  and  intimate  personal  friend;  indeed,  she 
regarded  all  as  elder  or  younger  sisters.  Day  after 
day,  week  after  week,  month  after  month,  she  would 
sit  for  many  hours  at  the  table,  with  papers  about 
her,  in  a  room  devoted  to  the  work.  Often  her  lamp 
burned  till  late  at  night,  so  interested  did  she  become, 
so  desirous  there  should  be  no  delay. 

To  secure  accuracy,  former  letters  from  mem- 
bers were  placed  on  file,  and  often  consulted.  This 
resulted  in  many  corrections,  both  in  the  catalogue 
and  record  books.  To  trace  those  of  whom  nothing 
had  been  known  for  years,  friends  and  classmates 
were  first  questioned,  postmasters,  ministers,  and  town 
clerks  in  towns  where  students  formerly  resided  were 
written  to.  The  finding  of  one  person  sometimes 
required  six  or  seven  letters.  The  circulars,  letters, 
and  cards  sent  to  dilatory  members  of  the  society 
numbered  thousands.  All  money  given  for  this  work 
was  at  once  acknowledged  by  letter.  It  was  her  oft 
expressed  wish  to  reply  to  all  from  whom  she  received 
tidings  with  a  personal  friendly  letter ;  but  time  and 
strength  would  not  allow.  She  enlisted  the  services 
of  each  member  of  her  family,  and  her  daughter, 
Miss  Harriet  R.  Pease,  true  to  her  mother's  train- 
ing, became  such  an  enthusiastic  helper  that  her 
efficiency  contributed  much  to  secure  the  prompt 
issue  of  the  catalogue  of  1887.  Knowing  the  tax  it 
would  be  upon  her  strength,  Mr.  Pease  felt  reluctant 
to  have  Mrs.  Pease  undertake  the  task,  but  yielded  in 


1 8  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

consideration  of  her  great  love  for  the  seminary  and 
the  alumnae.  Her  heart  was  greatly  cheered  by  appre- 
ciative words  received  from  many  after  the  work  was 
completed. 

Her  large  experience  enabled  Mrs.  Pease  to 
propose  plans  and  give  valuable  aid  for  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  General  Catalogue  for  Fifty  Years,  which 
was  published  in  1889.  Of  the  more  than  6,800  stu- 
dents reported  in  its  pages,  she  arranged  alphabeti- 
cally the  names  of  all  for  the  first  fifteen  years,  and 
furnished  information  about  them  and  others  from 
the  material  she  had  secured  for  the  biographical 
record  that  she  hoped  would  be  prepared. 

Mrs.  Pease  was  interested  in  all  forms  of  Chris- 
tian work,  and  the  seminary  was  blessed  by  deep 
religious  interest  and  the  conversion  of  many  dur- 
ing the  years  of  her  administration.  These  revivals 
resembled  those  in  the  first  years  of  the  seminary,  so 
quiet  that  a  stranger  would  have  noticed  nothing 
unusual,  but  so  deep  that  all  hearts  were  influenced. 
During  one  year  ninety  out  of  a  hundred  and  ten 
impenitent  members  of  the  school  testified  to  their 
acceptance  of  Christ  before  the  close  of  the  second 
term ;  with  a  mother's  mingled  joy  and  solicitude  the 
principal  offered  praises  and  prayers  for  her  family  of 
more  than  three  hundred  Christian  students. 

It  was  her  privilege  to  welcome  Fidelia  Fiske  on 
her  return  from  Persia,  and  to  enjoy  her  counsel  and 
aid  for  most  of  the  five  years  following.  The  histo- 
rian writes :  "  It  was  a  happy  thought  that  led  Miss 
Chapin,  in  1859,  to  propose  a  reunion  at  the  semi- 
nary of  those  Holyoke  missionaries  who  were  in  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  19 

country,  inviting  them  to  bring  their  husbands  and 
children.  It  resulted  in  a  representative  gathering, 
June  30,  from  many  stations  of  the  American  Board, 
which  was  itself  represented  by  Rev.  Dr.  Anderson. 
Of  the  fifteen  ladies,  five  had  been  teachers  here. 
Besides  the  forty-two  from  mission  families,  Mrs.  Ban- 
ister, Mrs.  Cowles,  and  other  friends  made  an  assem- 
bly of  more  than  one  hundred  guests.  It  seemed 
like  a  meeting  of  the  Board  in  miniature.  Short 
addresses  were  given  in  the  seminary  hall  both 
morning  and  afternoon,  interspersed  with  singing 
by  the  young  ladies.  The  welcome  was  extended  by 
Dr.  Hitchcock  as  one  of-  the  trustees.  Dr.  Anderson 
expressed  his  view  of  the  importance  of  the  seminary 
to  mission  work  by  saying  that  to  no  college  in  the 
United  States  did  he  turn  with  so  much  interest, 
while  feeling  the  pulse  of  missions,  as  to  this  institu- 
tion. He  stated  that  sixty  graduates  had  been  mis- 
sionaries of  the  Board,  and  that  twenty-eight  were 
then  in  the  field."  Frequent  mention  is  made,  in 
journals  kept  by  teachers  and  others,  of  the  calls  for 
laborers.  One  writes:  "Miss  Chapin  returned  from 
Boston,  Saturday,  and  at  teachers'  meeting,  Sabbath 
morning,  told  us  she  went  away  to  confer  with 
Mr.  Treat,  Miss  Fiske,  and  others,  about  the  mission- 
ary teachers.  Of  those  who  responded  to  the  call, 
it  is  probable  two  will  go."  A  few  months  later 
Dr.  Anderson  came  to  ask  for  another  teacher  for 
Turkey,  and  Miss  Chapin  said  to  the  young  ladies, 
"  Though  only  one  is  called  for,  it  is  a  matter  in  which 
every  one  has  a  new  call  to  entire  consecration." 


20  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

During  the  Rebellion  the  young  ladies  were  en- 
couraged to  prepare  such  supplies  as  they  were  able, 
to  send  to  the  soldiers  in  camp  and  hospital.  Miss 
Chapin  in  every  way  promoted  the  development  of 
patriotic  sentiments,  and  in  1860  she  arranged  for  the 
young  ladies  to  cast  their  votes  for  President,  and 
rejoiced  that  Abraham  Lincoln  received  two  hundred 
and  forty-six.  She  enjoyed  the  illumination  and  pro- 
cession which  followed  his  election,  and  aided  in  every 
way  the  making  and  unfurling  of  the  American  flag 
which  floated  "  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the 
seminary  grounds."  Miss  Chapin  was  careful  that  all 
should  receive  the  latest  news  from  the  seat  of  war, 
and  newspaper  items  of  most  importance  were  marked 
and  often  read  as  we  were  assembled  for  some  family 
exercise.  From  a  journal  this  quotation  is  taken : 
"  At  breakfast  Miss  Chapin  stated  the  position  of  the 
contending  forces  in  Virginia.  Our  weekly  meeting 
tonight  was  given  to  prayer  for  our  army  and  country. 
The  news  of  Hooker's  retreat  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock  fills  us  with  anxiety.  We  have  many  brothers 
there.  .  .  .  Throughout  the  year  the  daily  or  weekly 
prayer  meeting  for  soldiers  was  well  attended." 

It  was  her  custom  on  mornings  preceding  the 
dispersion  of  the  family  for  vacations  to  lead  us  in 
the  family  devotions.  The  hour  might  be  early  and 
wintry  winds  roar  without,  but  the  altar  fires  were 
bright  within.  After  a  favorite  hymn,  a  Scripture 
reading  filled  with  words  of  love  and  promises  of 
guidance,  her  voice  commended  us  to  Him  who  alone 
was  able  to  guide  and  keep.  The  sweetness,  comfort, 
and  help  of  those  brief  occasions  increased  the  desire 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  21 

every  such  opportunity  gave  that  her  strength  would 
allow  us  more  frequently  than  it  did  the  privilege 
of  listening  to  her. 

To  spend  a  vacation  in  her  society  was  inspi- 
ration for  a  lifetime,  as  many  can  testify.  There 
was  no  other  housekeeper  then,  and  Miss  Chapin 
spent  weeks  directing  the  cleaning  and  renovating 
in  preparation  for  the  opening  of  the  year.  A  few 
who  kept  her  company  counted  it  a  blessing  to 
belong  to  that  small  family,  and  learned  more  each 
day  of  her  love  for  the  absent,  and  her  interest  in 
the  new  daughters  of  the  seminary,  all  of  whom 
she  never  failed  to  mention  at  the  hour  of  prayer. 
Willing  and  joyous  self-denial,  which  is  the  meas- 
ure of  love,  never  had  a  fuller  exemplification  than 
in  the  life  of  the  friend  we  so  sincerely  mourn. 

From  her  home  in  Somers  she  sent  gladness  to 
many  a  home  missionary  by  clothing  and  other  gifts, 
packed  by  her  own  hands.  She  was  assistant  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  many  years ;  had 
charge  of  the  primary  classes  for  ten  years,  and  aided 
in  clothing  and  bringing  needy  children  into  the 
school.  She  organized  a  mission  band,  spending 
days,  weeks  even,  in  arranging  suitable  exercises, 
drilling  for  occasional  meetings,  and  preparing  work 
for  little  fingers. 

Mrs.  Pease  was  an  earnest  friend  and  helper  of 
the  Woman's  Board  of  Missions  and  of  the  Woman's 
Home  Missionary  Society.  Her  philanthropy  em- 
braced the  world ;  her  loving  heart  touched  in  sym- 
pathy and  prayer  all  for  whom  Christ  died.  One, 
long  a  helper  in  her  family,  testified  with  tears,  when 


22  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

hearing  of  the  death  of  her  friend,"  I  always  liked  to 
work  there,  Mrs.  Pease  was  so  kind  and  pleasant,  and 
took  such  an  interest  in  me." 

Mrs.  Pease  was  progressive  in  her  ideas,  clinging 
to  no  idea  simply  because  it  was  old,  adopting  none 
simply  because  it  was  new,  but  striving  for  whatever 
seemed  the  best.  Those  who  heard  her  discourse 
upon  the  progress  of  science,  upon  books  treating  of 
new  themes,  upon  different  systems  of  philosophy, 
influence  of  the  press,  methods  of  temperance  work, 
questions  of  finance  and  politics,  could  only  wonder 
where  in  her  busy  life  there  had  been  time  to  acquire 
so  much.  In  the  advancement  of  the  seminary  and 
the  securing  of  a  college  charter  she  felt  a  deep  inter- 
est, and  in  speaking  of  the  need  of  money  to  increase 
the  facilities  for  work,  well  do  some  recall  her  words, 
"  I  tell  them  they  ask  too  little." 

Her  unusual  power  of  putting  herself  in  place  of 
others,  and  looking  at  things  from  their  standpoint, 
enabled  her  to  realize  how  a  child,  a  toiling,  lonely, 
and  bereaved  soul,  suffered,  and  the  counsel  she 
gave  was  therefore  practical,  helpful,  hopeful;  and  her 
unwavering  trust  in  God  kept  her  strong  and  sweet 
tempered.  In  emergencies  she  could  at  once  lay 
aside  her  own  care  and  work,  and  enter  into  the 
cares  and  burdens  of  others.  In  these  manifold 
duties  and  offices,  "  humility  was  her  daily  dress,  and 
self-forgetfulness  her  starry  crown." 

The  ability  to  serve  in  times  and  places  where 
service  is  most  needed  is  proof  of  greatness.  Many 
can  attempt  large  things,  leaving  details  and  drudgery 
to  others;  it  is  only  one  with  heart  penetrated  with 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  23 

divine  love,  that  can,  with  the  great,  perceive  the 
smaller  needs  and  follow  in  the  Master's  steps,  who, 
holding  the  worlds  in  his  hand,  permits  not  a  sparrow 
to  fall  without  his  notice.  This  efficiency  and  enthu- 
siasm in  loving  service  characterized  our  friend  in  a 
remarkable  degree.  Her  most  fitting  monument  is 
found  in  the  characters  molded  and  lives  enriched 
by  her  judicious  labors  in  her  home,  and  in  Mount 
Holyoke  Seminary,  where  more  than  three  thousand 
students  were  directly  under  her  teaching,  and  more 
than  six  thousand  were  benefited  by  her  endeavors. 

In  years  past  she  had  repeatedly  suffered  from 
pain  in  her  head,  yet  few  of  her  friends  had  appre- 
hended danger.  During  the  winter  of  1889  her 
health  was  unusually  good,  while  her  bright  and  viva- 
cious spirit  gave  a  peculiar  charm  to  her  expressive 
face.  In  the  spring  she  accompanied  Mr.  Pease  on  a 
trip  to  Georgia,  and  about  half-past  four  on  Wednes- 
day, May  8,  while  they  were  in  consultation  with  their 
business  agent,  she  suddenly  became  speechless,  and 
realizing  her  condition,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears. 
A  physician  was  summoned,  everything  possible  to 
relieve  her  suffering  was  done,  but  she  soon  became 
unconscious,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  Thursday  peace- 
fully "  entered  into  rest."  The  funeral  services  were 
held  at  the  family  residence  in  Somers,  Tuesday 
afternoon,  May  14.  The  near  relatives  and  a  few 
other  friends,  including  Prof.  Anna  C.  Edwards, 
Mrs.  Stow,  Miss  Hazen,  and  Miss  Bardwell,  from 
Mount  Holyoke  College,  were  present.  As  the 
time  of  the  funeral  was  not  generally  known,  many 
dear  friends  were  unable  to  attend.  The  exercises 


24  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

were  very  simple,  tender,  and  beautiful.  Rev.  C.  H. 
Gleason,  her  pastor,  read  Scripture  selections ;  the 
daughters  sang  a  favorite  hymn  of  the  departed: 

"Father,  I  know  that  all  my  life 

Is  portioned  out  for  me ; 
The  changes  that  will  surely  come 

I  do  not  fear  to  see: 
I  ask  thee  for  a  present  mind, 

Intent  on  pleasing  thee. 

"  I  ask  thee  for  a  thoughtful  love, 
Through  constant  watching  wise, 

To  meet  the  glad  with  joyful  smiles, 
And  wipe  the  weeping  eyes  ; 

A  heart  at  leisure  from  itself, 
To  soothe  and  sympathize. 

"Wherever  in  the  world  I  am, 

In  whatsoe'er  estate, 
I  have  a  fellowship  with  hearts 

To  keep  and  cultivate ; 
A  work  of  lowly  love  to  do 

For  him  on  whom  I  wait. 

"I  ask  thee  for  the  daily  strength, 

To  none  that  ask  denied, 
A  mind  to  blend  with  outward  life 

While  keeping  at  thy  side ; 
Content  to  fill  a  little  space, 
If  thou  be  glorified." 

Rev.  Theodore    Pease    read    selections,   closing 
with  the  last  chapter  of  Proverbs,  and  a  poem : 

"  O  blessed  life  of  service  and  of  love ; 

Heart  wide  as  life,  deep  as  life's  deepest  woe ! 
God's  servants  serve  him  day  and  night  above, 
Thou  served'st  day  and  night,  we  thought,  below. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH. 


"Hands  full  of  blessings  lavished  far  and  wide, 

Hands  tender  to  bind  up  hearts  wounded  sore, 
Stooping  quite  down  earth's  lowest  need  beside, 
Master,  like  tJue  !  we  thought,  and  said  no  more. 


"We  o'er  all  sorrow  would  have  raised  thee  up, 

Crowned  with  life's  choicest  blossoms  even  and  morn ; 
God  made  thee  drink  of  his  beloved's  cup, 

And  crowned  thee  with  the  Master's  crown  of  thorn. 

"Looking  from  thee  to  him,  once  wounded  sore, 

We  learned  a  little  more  his  face  to  see; 

Then,  looking  from  the  cross  for  us  he  bore 

To  thine,  we  almost  understood  for  thee. 

"Till  now  again  we  gaze  on  thee  above, 

Strong  and  unwearied,  serving  day  and  night; 
O  blessed  life  of  service  and  of  love ! 

Master,  like  thee!  and  with  thee  in  thy  light." 


Rev.  Allen  Hazen  repeated  a  portion  of  the 
hymn  beginning, 

"For  all  the  saints  who  from  their  labors  rest," 
and  offered  prayer;  and  the  assembled  friends  sang, 
"Abide  with  me,  fast  falls  the  eventide." 

All  expense  and  display  were  omitted  from  defer- 
ence to  her  oft  expressed  opinion,  but  the  casket  was 
adorned  with  a  few  floral  offerings  from  dear  friends ; 
a  bunch  of  red  Southern  roses  placed  there  by  the 
teachers  of  Beach  Institute,  Savannah,  Georgia,  a 
large  bouquet  of  lilies  of  the  valley  from  her  own 
garden,  and  flowers  from  the  grounds  of  Mount  Hoi- 


26  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

yoke  College.  With  these  it  was  borne  to  the  village 
cemetery,  and  all  that  was  mortal  of  our  friend  was 
laid  to  rest.  Our  grief  is  too  deep  for  words ;  but  she 
whom  we  mourn  is  not  in  the  tomb.  As  on  earth 
she  ever  found  "the  reward  of  work  well  done  was 
not  rest,  but  more  work,"  so,  in  that  land  where  there 
are  no  limitations  of  the  flesh,  her  tireless  spirit  may 
engage  in  heavenly  pursuits  with  loved  friends  who 
have  gone  before. 

Of  her  sweet  and  faithful  ministrations  in  her 
home  life  we  have  caught  glimpses  in  occasional 
visits,  and  in  the  loving  testimony  of  her  household. 
The  aged  and  blind  grandmother  found  no  other 
hand  so  gentle,  no  other  attentions  so  satisfying;  the 
husband  found  companionship  and  help  in  the  high- 
est, truest  sense,  and  the  three  motherless  children 
a  most  wise  and  affectionate  mother. 

Her  excellent  judgment,  loving  heart,  and  sympa- 
thetic mind,  made  her  the  confidential  friend,  adviser, 
consoler,  and  inspirer  of  all  within  her  realm.  Her 
long  association  with  students  kept  her  in  loving 
sympathy  with  the  young.  "  She  had  never  traveled 
so  far  inland  from  the  coasts  of  life  "  as  to  forget  that 
she  had  been  a  child.  The  duties  and  cares  of  home, 
its  hospitalities  and  privileges,  she  bore  and  admin- 
istered with  the  same  cheerful  devotion  she  had  given 
to  her  larger  home,  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary.  The 
books  she  furnished,  the  direction  she  gave  to  reading 
and  research,  left  a  stimulating  influence,  potent  in 
shaping  the  thought  and  life  of  her  children,  one  of 
whom  says :  "  Her  beautiful  character  was  most  fully 
manifest  in  the  little  cares,  trials,  and  loving  ser- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  2J 

vices  of  daily  life.  My  sister,  Mrs.  Stackpole,  writes : 
1  Never,  by  word  or  act,  has  she  shown  that  we  were 
not  bound  to  her  by  natural  ties,'  and  says  that 
mother's  interest  in  her  welfare,  marriage,  children, 
and  all  that  concerned  her,  was  as  genuine  and  active 
as  if  she  were  her  own  daughter." 

The  younger  sister  continues,  "  I  surely  never 
knew  the  lack  of  an  own  mother's  love  and  care. 
I  have  always  felt  that  a  girl's  best  counselor  and 
truest  friend  is  her  mother,  and  have  always  gone  to 
her  with  all  my  joys,  troubles,  and  secrets,  sure  of 
sympathy  and  help." 

Rev.  Theodore  Pease,  her  son,  read  at  the  fune- 
ral, as  fittingly  portraying  her  character,  these  with 
other  words  of  Solomon :  "  She  openeth  her  mouth 
with  wisdom ;  and  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kind- 
ness. She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household, 
and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness.  Her  children 
arise  up,  and  call  her  blessed ;  her  husband  also,  and 
he  praiseth  her.  Many  daughters  have  done  virtu- 
ously, but  thou  excellest  them  all.  Favor  is  deceit- 
ful, and  beauty  is  vain :  but  a  woman  that  feareth  the 
Lord,  she  shall  be  praised,  Give  her  of  the  fruit  of 
her  hands ;  and  let  her  own  works  praise  her  in  the 
gates." 


TRIBUTES. 


(By  Emily  Jessup,  Associate  Principal  from  1855  to  1862.} 

"  The  service  Miss  Chapin  rendered  Mount  Hoi- 
yoke  Seminary  has  been  portrayed  by  a  more  capable 
pen  than  mine,  and  that  record  will  be  read  as  long  as 
the  *  History  of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary '  is  extant. 
I  fully  subscribe  to  it.  I  would  also  add  that  I  consider 
Miss  Chapin's  prudent  conservatism  a  very  important 
factor  of  her  usefulness  to  the  institution  at  the  critical 
time  when  a  principal  must  be  selected  to  succeed 
Miss  Whitman ;  and  when  the  school  was  in  danger 
from  ks  friends  who  advocated  vital  changes,  Miss 
Chapin's  prudent  management,  patient  waiting,  and 
wise  adherence  to  all  the  arrangements  Miss  Lyon 
had  inaugurated,  fixed  upon  the  school  the  character 
Miss  Lyon  had  given  to  it. 

"  Another  great  work  Mrs.  Pease  has  been  per- 
mitted to  do  is  that  of  compiling  the  Memorandum 
Catalogue.  The  patient  labor  of  such  a  tedious  and 
yet  so  satisfying  work  could,  it  seems  to  me,  have 
been  done  by  no  other  person.  Few  indeed  would 
prosecute  so  persistently  and  untiringly  inquiry  after 
all  who  have  known  the  seminary  as  their  alma  mater ; 
and  certainly  few  have  hearts  large  enough  to  take 
those  girls  all  in  sufficiently  to  do  a  work  involving 
such  a  vast  amount  of  labor.  My  Memorandum  Cat- 


30  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

alogue  is  ever  near  at  hand.  I  consult  it  more  than 
my  dictionary.  When  I  use  it  I  think  of  the  faithful 
and  loving  heart  which  took  so  much  pains  to  make 
effective  dear  Miss  Lyon's  early  plans,  and  to  prove 
their  greatness  and  their  beneficence." 

(By  Margaret  Emma  Ditto,  Class  of  '61.) 

"  I  wish  I  might  properly  express  my  admiration 
and  reverence  for  Mrs.  Mary  Chapin  Pease.  She  was 
a  character  of  singular  rectitude,  integrity,  and  humil- 
ity. Some  one  says  that  humility  does  not  consist 
in  thinking  meanly  of  one's  self,  but  in  not  thinking 
at  all  of  one's  self.  This  was  Mrs.  Pease's  kind  of 
humility.  She  always  saw  the  thing  to  be  done  —  not 
herself  as  tJie  one  who  was  doing  it.  This  gave  her 
a  singular  quality  of  self-lessness,  or  humility.  But 
she  was  one  who  accomplished  a  great  work,  and 
I  doubt  not  she  will  be  amazed  at  her  own  shining 
brightness  in  the  day  when  God  shall  make  up  his 
jewels. 

"  The  last  time  I  saw  her  I  rode  with  her  from 
Springfield  to  Boston.  Entering  the  car,  she  recog- 
nized me,  laid  hold  upon  me  after  the  first  greeting 
with,  *  Your  last  report  to  the  Memorandum  Society 
was  deficient  in  two  points,'  naming  them.  *  If  you 
can  give  me  that  information  now,  I  can  have  the 
proof  corrected,  as  my  daughter  is  reading  proof  on 
the  D's  today.  Consulting  her  watch  to  see  if  she 
could  catch  the  eastern  mail  at  an  approaching  junc- 
tion, she  then  wrote  a  postal  card  with  corrections, 
and  mailed  it  on  the  train. 


TRIBUTES.  31 

"  How  could  she  remember  me —  only  one  of  me 
—  out  of  the  three  thousand  people  in  that  Memoran- 
dum Catalogue !  How  could  she  reduce  me  —  the 
whole  of  me,  with  all  the  excellences  and  accuracies 
of  my  lifetime  —  to  the  minimum  of  two  miserable 
mistakes !  But  there  she  held  me  until  the  business 
was  dispatched.  Then  we  had  a  wonderful  visit. 
I  asked  her  questions  about  early  times  at  the  semi- 
nary—  many  things  I  needed  to  know  for  an  article 
I  had  in  hand  to  write.  What  answers  she  gave 
me  —  so  direct,  so  compact,  so  solid  with  informa- 
tion ;  all  facts,  no  inferences,  no  imaginings,  no  sur- 
misings,  no  digressions  upon  herself !  They  were 
the  answers  of  one  who  penetrates  to  the  heart  of  a 
question,  and  who  has  the  settled  habit  of  coming 
at  the  central  fact  of  a  situation,  not  dallying  with 
side  issues,  as  is  the  custom  of  less  vigorous  or 
less  sincere  minds. 

"  I  asked  her  about  her  appointment  as  Miss 
Lyon's  successor.  She  said  :  *  I  had  always  been  with 
Miss  Lyon  a  great  deal  from  the  first.  I  was  feet 
to  her,  eyes  to  her,  anything  to  help  her;  and  so 
I  understood  all  the  kinds  of  work  that  the  principal 
had  to  do,  and  when  there  was  no  one  else  to  do  it, 
I  did  it ;  and  as  one  after  another  gave  out,  I  had 
to  keep  on.  I  was  twenty-eight,  but  I  never  had 
thought  of  myself  as  anything  but  a  little  girl.' 

"  So,  hero  and  martyr,  she  stood  in  the  breach, 
disclaiming  the  name  and  honor,  but  doing  the  work 
till  some  one  of  '  superior  gifts '  could  be  found  to 
take  the  great  Miss  Lyon's  place.  But  after  a  time 
it  became  plain  to  all  that  the  '  superior  gifts,' 


32  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

like  the  kingdom  of  heaven  in  the  midst  of  the 
Pharisees,  was  '  within  them,'  and  Miss  Chapin  pro- 
testing, even  to  a  whole  night  of  weeping,  had  the 
honor  thrust  upon  her.  She  held  that  position  for 
thirteen  years,  resigning  upon  her  marriage  to  Mr. 
Pease. 

"  The  Miss  Chapin  whom  my  school-girl  compre- 
hension took  in  and  estimated  was,  however,  a  very 
different  person  from  the  Mrs.  Pease  with  whom  I 
had  the  honor  to  become  acquainted  in  later  years. 
They  differed  pretty  much  as  a  pinch  of  salt  differs 
from  a  handful.  There  was  always  salt  enough  there, 
and  it  never  lost  its  savor;  but  I  had  only  sense 
enough  to  take  in  a  pinch  of  it  when  I  was  a  girl. 
I  wish  that  in  my  youth  I  might  have  comprehended 
the  meaning  and  power  of  such  a  life  as  hers.  I 
should  earlier  have  come  to  the  true  meaning  of  my 
own  life,  and  the  use  to  be  made  of  it. 

"  We  know  indeed  that  there  were  never  two  of 
her — Miss  Chapin  or  Mrs.  Pease.  Student,  teacher, 
principal,  wife,  mother,  conserver  of  the  alumnal 
interests  of  the  seminary,  her  character  and  worth 
had  an  integral  quality  never  seen  but  in  the  most 
steadfast  minds.  You  could  never  say,  *  Here  she 
changed  or  shifted  —  there  she  seemed  different; 
now  she  came  short,  and  there  she  went  beyond.' 
Through  all  her  life  she  acted  with  a  single-purposed 
unselfishness  that  kept  her  steady,  and  made  her  way 
straight  onward — 'the  path  of  the  just  that  shine th 
more  and  more  to  the  perfect  day.' 

"  The  Mary  Chapin  who  at  sixteen  walked  up 
the  preliminary  plank  into  the  domestic  hall,  to  find 


TRIBUTES.  33 

Miss  Lyon  in  a  red  plaid  cloak  and  green  calash 
among  the  shavings  and  debris  of  the  new  building, 
was  ever  one  and  the  same  as  the  Mrs.  Pease  who  at 
sixty-eight  died  in  the  midst  of  a  business  interview 
with  her  husband's  agent.  She  handed  him  a  paper. 
'  It  is  right,  now,  I  believe,'  she  said,  and  then  —  there 
was  a  sudden  heart  failure.  She  spoke  no  more.  In 
a  few  hours  she  was  gone.  She  died  as  she  had 
lived,  making  things  *  right  now.' 

"  Hundreds  of  her  pupils  would  heartily  assent  to 
these  words  of  one :  '  It  is  a  privilege  to  have  known 
such  a  character.  I  always  hold  her  up  as  a  model 
of  unselfishness  and  of  patience.  I  never  thought  or 
spoke  of  her,  that  her  nobleness  of  character  did  not 
come  to  me.' " 


TRIBUTES.  35 

(By  the  Boston  Association  of  Mount  Holyoke  Alumna, 
May  18,  1889.) 

"  Whereas  our  Heavenly  Father  has  called  to 
himself  Mrs.  Mary  W.  Chapin  Pease : 

"  Resolved,  that  in  the  death  of  Mrs.  Pease  Mount 
Holyoke  Seminary  and  College  has  lost  a  friend 
whose  devotion  has  been  loyal,  judicious,  wise,  and 
efficient;  one  who,  from  its  earliest  days,  labored 
earnestly,  untiringly,  and  faithfully  for  its  interests. 
As  a  pupil,  she  was  one  of  the  first  to  receive  Miss 
Lyon's  cordial  greeting,  and  affectionate,  trusting 
welcome  as  a  helper ;  and  when,  after  her  graduation, 
she  was  added  to  the  corps  of  teachers,  it  was  to 
throw  her  whole  self  into  the  interests  and  work 
of  the  seminary. 

"  After  Miss  Lyon's  death,  during  Miss  Whit- 
man's illness  and  after  her  resignation,  the  heavy 
burdens  falling  upon  her  were  borne  with  great 
humility  and  fidelity;  and  during  the  thirteen  years 
that  she  was  principal,  her  economy,  patience,  con- 
stant watchfulness,  and  rare  executive  ability  enabled 
her  to  so  carry  out  Miss  Lyon's  progressive  plans 
*  that  she  held  the  position  with  advantage  to  the 
seminary  and  credit  to  herself.' 

"  After  her  marriage  she  still  labored  earnestly 
and  lovingly,  with  undiminished  interest,  making  and 
aiding  in  the  execution  of  plans  that  were  practical 
and  broad,  for  its  improvement  and  enlargement,  and 
rejoicing  in  all  its  successes. 

"  Resolved,  that  we  feel  called  on  by  her  teaching 
and  example  to  work  while  the  day  lasts,  doing  with 


36  MARY  w.  (CHAPIN)  PEASE. 

our  might  what  our  hands  find  to  do,  watching  unto 
prayer,  that  we  may  be  also  ready,  and  receive  our 
Master's  '  Well  done  ;  enter  into  joy.' 

"  Resolved,  that  our  sympathy  be  extended  to  the 
family  of  our  dear  friend,  and  our  prayer  for  them 
shall  be  that  the  Lord  may  sustain  and  comfort 
them,  that  they  may  be  '  perfect  and  complete  in 
all  the  will  of  God. ' " 

MRS.  MARY  A.  KEITH,  \    Committee 
Miss  JULIA  E.  WARD,    >        on 
MRS.  C.  P.  WILLIAMS,  )  Resolutions. 


THE 
UN/VSRSITY 


/ 

[From  her  /«^  letter.} 


MEMORIAL 


OF 


LYDIA   W.   SHATTUCK 


BORN  JUNE  10,  1822 
DIED  NOVEMBER  2,  1889 


BOSTON 

BEACON  PRBSS:   THOMAS  TODD,  PRINTER 
1890 


"  And  I  will  trust  that  He  who  heeds 

The  life  that  hides  in  mead  and  wold, 
Who  hangs  yon  alder's  crimson  beads, 

And  stains  these  mosses  green  and  gold, 
Will  still,  as  He  hath  done,  incline 
His  gracious  care  to  me*and  mine  y 
Grant  what  we  ask  aright,  from  wrong  debar, 
And  as  the  earth  grows  dark,  make  brighter  every  star" 

—  WHITTIER. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH, 


BY  SARAH  D.  (LOCKE)  STOW. 


IN  "The  Memorials  of  the  Shattuck  Family"  the  editor 
says :  "  The  Shattucks  have  formed  a  fair  average  specimen 
of  the  independent  yeomanry  of  New  England  —  that  class 
of  men  and  women  who  make  the  foundation  strength  and 
energy  of  the  republic,  and  who  can  be  relied  on  generally 
for  its  peace,  stability,  and  progress,  and,  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency, for  its  protection  and  preservation.  They  have,  in  the 
main,  been  independent  thinkers,  stable  in  their  opinions,  not 
afraid  to  express  them  on  any  proper  occasion,  and  unwilling 
to  submit  to  oppression  or  unreasonable  dictation.  A  large 
average  proportion  of  them  have  been  professors  of  religion, 
and  eminently  Christian  men  and  women,  careful  in  the  per- 
formance of  all  Christian  duty." 

The  family  traces  its  origin  to  William  Shattuck,  who  was 
born  in  England  in  1621-22,  and  whose  name  appears  in  an 
old  list  of  the  proprietors  of  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  made 
about  1642. 

Lydia  White  Shattuck  —  named  for  her  maternal  grand- 
mother—  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation 
from  the  above  named  William.  She  was  born  June  10,  1822, 
in  East  Landaff  (now  Easton),  New  Hampshire,  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  Franconia  Mountains,  in  the  region  of  Mount 
Kinsman  and  Moosehillock.  Her  grandfather  Shattuck,  with 
others  of  the  family,  went  to  New  Hampshire  from  Eastern 
Massachusetts,  and  settled  in  Landaff,  then  called  Lincoln,  in 
1798.  Her  father,  Timothy  Shattuck,  who  was  a  cousin  of  the 


0  I.VDIA    W.    SIIATTWK. 

eminent  physician  George  C.  Shattuck,  of  Boston,  turned  back 
like  Isaac  to  the  country  of  his  fathers  for  a  wife,  married, 
January  28,  1812,  Betsey  Fletcher,  of  Acton,  Massachusetts, 
and  took  her  to  a  farm  life  among  the  mountains.  Lydia, 
their  fifth  child,  was  the  first  who  lived,  William  L.,  the  only 
son,  survives  his  sister,  and  resides  in  Wing  Road,  New 
Hampshire,  a  few  miles  from  the  place  of  their  birth. 

The  father,  tall,  large,  with  light  blue  eyes  under  a  mas- 
sive brow  crowned  with  light  hair  early  turning  white,  was 
a  man  of  strong  intellect  and  of  deep  and  firm  convictions. 
He  was  strict  in  all  religious  observances  himself,  yet  would 
not  require  his  children  to  adopt  either  his  practices  or  his 
opinions.  He  was  often  called  to  visit  the  siek  and  dying, 
and  was  active  in  all  good  works. 

The  mother  —  short  and  somewhat  stout ;  of  dark  hair, 
eyes,  and  complexion ;  of  reticent  habits,  with  a  certain  fine 
feeling  and  a  love  of  the  beautiful  —  often  found  companion- 
ship in  nature  rather  than  among  the  neighbors  of  their 
sparsely  settled  community. 

The  daughter  was  like  her  father  in  form  and  features, 
bright  blue  eyes  and  delicate  complexion.  Her  light  curling 
hair  turned  white  with  years,  but  always  curled ;  her  pearly 
teeth  kept  sound  and  beautiful  as  long  as  she  lived.  Full  of 
life  and  strength,  the  active  maiden  was  an  attraction  through 
the  neighborhood ;  and  though  she  never  spoke  of  it,  rumor 
says  that  she  had  admirers  not  a  few,  who  would  have  been 
glad  to  gain  her  heart  and  hand. 

Drinking  in  all  the  influences  about  her,  the  young  girl 
remembered  her  father's  words  and  ways,  and  imbibed  with 
his  sturdy  views  her  mother's  feelings  and  love  of  nature, 
often  following  her  half  silently  through  wood  and  field.  She 
never  lost  the  child's  delight  with  which,  on  returning  from 
one  of  these  excursions,  she  sat  down  to  rejoice  in  her  apron- 
ful  of  flowers  —  all  her  own. 

With  her  brother  she  climbed  the  hills,  or  wandered  up 
and  down  the  streams  that  feed  the  Ammonoosuc.  She  loved 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  7 

to  watch  the  fish,  but  could  never  bear  to  have  them  caught ; 
their  struggles  gave  her  too  much  pain.  Twice  at  least  they 
ascended  Mount  Kinsman,  on  whose  summit  she  found  to  her 
great  surprise  the  meadow  cranberry  growing. 

In  the  words  of  Miss  Ellis,  her  long-time  friend  :  "  Nature, 
the  dear  old  nurse,  took  her  into  loving  confidence;  wander- 
ing about  in  meadow,  marsh,  and  forest,  in  the  valleys  and 
over  the  hills;  delighting  in  the  whisper  of  the  breeze,  the 
notes  of  insects,  the  songs  of  birds,  and  the  ever-varying 
phases  of  the  vegetable  world,  she  gained  a  knowledge  of  fly- 
ing and  creeping  things,  of  green  and  beautiful  growths,  far 
beyond  that  of  most  of  her  own  age,  and  indeed  of  her  own 
time." 

In  the  shadow  of  the  Franconia  range,  all  her  early  life, 
like  that  of  Miss  Lyon,  and  of  Miss  Fiske  among  the  Berk- 
shire hights,  had  the  elevating  and  expanding  influence 
of  a  home  among  the  mountains.  What  if  they  hid  the  east- 
ern sky  ?  She  used  to  say :  "  I  had  to  turn  my  face  upward 
to  greet  the  sun,  and  so  perhaps  I  learned  to  be  always  look- 
ing up." 

She  was  able  and  skilled  in  handiwork,  but  loved  the 
beautiful  more,  and  would  rather  be  watching  the  clouds  than 
washing  dishes  or  mending  stockings.  But  if  either  was  to 
be  done,  she  did  it  well,  and  in  later  years  younger  fingers 
seldom  excelled  hers  in  fine  darning,  or  in  such  other  needle- 
work as  she  attempted.  She  early  learned  to  spin  and  to 
knit  Books  and  papers  were  scarce  in  those  days,  but  she 
availed  herself  of  all  that  she  could  obtain,  knitting  sale-feet- 
ing  and  reading  at  the  same  time.  She  was  rapid  with  her 
needles,  and  after  her  fiftieth  birthday  she  knit  a  pair  of  men's 
socks  one  day  to  see  whether  she  could  still  do  it  in  that 
time.  She  was  fond  of  drawing,  and  at  one  time  allowed  her- 
self the  time  and  pleasure  of  making  crayon  pictures.  A 
large  copy  of  Miss  Lyon's  birthplace,  given  to  a  friend  nearly 
forty  years  ago,  has  always  hung  in  a  place  of  honor,  and  is 
valued  highly  for  its  double  associations.  A  lover  of  poetry, 


8  LYDIA    W.   SHATTUCK. 

she  treasured  up  and  often  repeated  choice  poetic  selections, 
and  sometimes  gave  easy  expression  to  her  own  thoughts  in 
verse. 

She  was  reared  in  a  religious  atmosphere.  Her  father's 
house  was  always  open  to  accommodate  the  neighborhood 
prayer  and  conference  meeting,  or  to  welcome  the  itinerant 
Methodist  preacher  for  his  fortnightly  lectures  when  the  old 
school-house  by  the  mill-stream  was  unfit  for  use.  Her  re- 
quest for  prayers  at  one  of  these  meetings,  some  time  after 
she  was  sixteen,  was  perhaps  a  turning-point  in  her  religious 
experience ;  but  her  church  membership  dates  from  the  age  of 
twenty-five.  For  the  eleven  years  before  her  death  she  was 
connected  with  the  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Springfield.  But  though  she  always  preferred  the  denomina- 
tion in  which  she  was  born  and  trained,  she  was  so  far  from 
being  sectarian  in  her  feelings  that  perhaps  not  one  in  a  hun- 
dred of  those  in  her  Bible  classes  or  evening  meetings  ever 
knew  to  what  denomination  she  belonged. 

Among  her  earliest  memories  was  her  first  day  at  school. 
Her  father  had  taken  her  within  sight  of  the  school-house, 
and  then  left  her  for  his  work.  School  had  begun  when  she 
arrived.  Taking  in  her  little  hand  a  chip  from  the  woodpile, 
she  timidly  rapped  with  it  on  the  door,  her  first  knock  at  the 
door  of  the  temple  of  learning.  To  the  tall  master's  question, 
"  What  do  you  want,  little  girl  ? "  she  said,  "  To  go  to  school ; " 
and  he  led  her  to  a  seat  on  a  low  bench  by  the  fire.  She 
early  showed  a  strong  mind,  was  quick  to  learn,  and  especially 
good  in  arithmetic ;  she  soon  mastered  what  was  taught  in 
the  common  school,  and  laid  good  foundations  for  further 
education.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  she  began  teach- 
ing district  schools,  and  taught  eighteen  terms  before  going 
to  South  Hadley. 

Another  family  among  the  early  settlers  of  Landaff  was 
one  by  the  name  of  Roys.  Removing  thence  to  Haverhill, 
New  Hampshire,  for  the  education  of  her  sons,  Mrs.  Roys 
invited  Miss  Shattuck  to  attend  the  academy  there,  which  she 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  9 

did  for  one  term,  when  about  sixteen,  studying  higher  English 
branches,  and  perhaps  French.  In  1845  ner  friend  Rhoda 
Roys,  a  Holyoke  student  in  1842,  became  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Almon  Benson,  of  Centre  Harbor,  New  Hampshire.  Through 
Mr.  Benson's  agency,  Miss  Shattuck  was  employed  to  teach  in 
that  place,  and  remained  there  through  the  fall  to  attend  a 
select  school  taught  by  Harriette  N.  Kingsbury,  then  a  Hol- 
yoke student,  afterwards  a  graduate.  While  there,  she  decided 
to  go  to  Mount  Holyoke  if  possible.  When  the  case  was 
referred  to  her  father,  he  expressed  much  unwillingness  to 
lose  her  from  home ;  and  yet  it  was  always  a  sorrow  to  him 
that  she  never  married.  But  he  said,  "  Lydia,  I  cannot  furnish 
you  money,  but  will  give  you  a  hundred  acres  of  wild  land.'r 
He  did  more  than  this ;  for  the  lot  he  gave  her  in  the  mountain 
gorge  contained  three  hundred  acres.  But  there  was  no  sale 
for  it  then,  and  it  brought  her  nothing  for  many  years.  Her 
good  friend,  Mrs.  Benson,  said  :  "  I  have  a  little  with  which  you 
can  start;  I'll  help  you  all  I  can."  In  the  winter  of  1847  she 
left  teaching  to  study  at  Newbury,  Vermont,  in  preparation 
for  the  seminary.  When  she  entered  in  1848,  the  require- 
ments of  candidates  had  been  made  for  the  first  time  ta 
include  "  a  good  knowledge  of  Andrews  and  Stoddard's  Latin 
Grammar,  and  Andrews'  Latin  Reader."  She  was  twenty-six 
years  old,  but  was  never  too  old  to  learn. 

Dependent  on  herself  for  means,  she  paid  her  own  way, 
and  a  large  part  of  it  by  extra  hours  and  care  in  domestic 
work.  Her  competence  in  that  department,  both  to  do 
and  to  direct  others,  was  shown  afterward  in  her  filling  the 
place  of  matron  for  several  years,  in  addition  to  her  work  in 
teaching. 

The  class  that  entered  with  her  was  the  last  one  Miss 
Lyon  lived  to  receive,  and  when  that  beloved  teacher  was 
stricken  with  fatal  disease  the  next  March,  it  was  her  privilege 
and  her  trust  to  watch  with  her  night  after  night.  A  like 
privilege  was  not  given  when  her  mother  died  three  years 
afterward.  She  was  unable  even  to  reach  home  in  time  for 


10  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

the  funeral.  Her  mother  had  taken  great  satisfaction  in  her 
going  to  the  seminary,  in  her  three  years  of  study,  and  in 
her  graduation  with  honor  in  1851;  and  was  specially  com- 
forted to  learn  that  she  was  engaged  to  enter  at  once  on  the 
work  of  teaching  there. 

That  work  she  never  left  for  another,  and  though  she 
was  repeatedly  away  months  at  a  time  for  travel  in  this  or 
other  lands,  chiefly  in  the  interests  of  science,  her  name  has 
appeared  in  every  annual  catalogue  since  she  entered.  In 
1889,  after  thirty-eight  years  in  the  department  of  botany,  she 
was  made,  professor  emeritus,  an  honor  thoroughly  deserved. 

Botany  was  not  her  only  subject.  For  a  time  she  taught 
algebra  and  geometry  a  part  of  the  year,  and  sometimes  phys- 
iology and  natural  philosophy.  Astronomy  classes  saw  the 
heavens  through  the  telescope  under  her  direction.  When 
Miss  Bardwell  was  teaching  physics  in  later  years,  she  says 
that  she  obtained  more  help,  in  certain  lines,  from  Miss  Shat- 
tuck,  than  from  any  book,  or  from  any  other  person.  But 
next  to  botany  she  delighted  most  in  teaching  chemistry,  in 
which  department  she  was  a  worthy  successor  of  Miss  Lyon 
and  Miss  Whitman.  She  used  to  say  that  in  the  winter  she 
liked  chemistry  best,  in  the  summer,  botany.  She  explored 
the  fields,  and  could  tell  where  the  first  arbutus  buds  would 
open.  She  knew  what  grew  in  "  the  dark  woods,"  and  all  the 
treasures  of  "  Paradise."  To  a  favored  few  she  whispered 
the  hiding  place  of  the  rare  and  fragrant  twin-flower,  which 
she  loved  both  for  its  own  sake,  and  because  it  bears  the 
name  of  Linnaeus. 

Her  interest  in  all  branches  of  science  was  remarkable. 
She  read  the  "  testimony  of  the  rocks,"  and  studied  their  story 
of  the  ages,  fascinated  by  geologic  changes,  past  or  present. 
While  studying  the  flora  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  1887, 
she  left  all  and  took  a  week's  time,  and  for  her  a  difficult 
journey,  with  the  uncertain  prospect  of  getting  a  sight  from 
the  steamer's  deck  of  a  lava  flow  from  Mauna  Loa.  "The 
grand  exhibition  of  volcanic  phenomena"  which  she  was  so 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  II 

fortunate  as  to  see,  gave  her  great  satisfaction.  It  was  not 
lessened  by  the  fact  that  a  party  which  took  the  same  trip 
two  days  later  saw  nothing  of  the  flow. 

Miss  Bowers  tells  of  one  instance  when  mineralogy  won 
a  conquest  over  botany.  In  the  summer  of  1868  a  party  of 
seminary  teachers  and  others,  on  an  excursion  to  the  Great 
Lakes,  visited  an  island  in  Lake  Superior  where  they  hoped 
to  find  the  fragrant  Aspiditim,  rare  elsewhere  in  the  United 
States.  But  there  were  chlorastrolites  also  on  the  island  ;  and 
once  ashore,  Miss  Shattuck  so  eagerly  sought  out  the  green 
star-stones  along  the  beach  that  others  were  the  first  to  see 
the  fragrant  fern  that  was  filling  the  air  like  violets. 

Her  enthusiasm  inspired  students  and  associates.  She 
was  full  of  zeal  in  laying  foundations  for  better  and  better 
work.  She  gained  the  respect  of  professors  who  came  to 
lecture,  and  with  whose  teachings  she  kept  herself  abreast. 
In  all  directions  she  reached  out  for  more  knowledge.  She 
read  current  literature  and  studied  authorities;  but  books 
often  failed  to  satisfy,  for  she  neither  accepted  nor  rejected 
opinions  merely  because  others  did.  Her  mind  was  strong  in 
seeking  for  facts,  and  the  relations  of  facts,  and  as  these  were 
successively  discovered,  her  opinions  varied  accordingly.  At 
first  she  was  strongly  opposed  to  all  theories  of  evolution,  but 
was  afterward  no  less  opposed  to  their  wholesale  denial,  say- 
ing characteristically,  at  one  stage  in  her  changing  view, 
"  I  would  rather  be  a  descendant  of  a  good  monkey  than  of 
a  wicked  man."  She  had  no  fear  of  any  theories  that  bear  the 
test  of  facts  rightly  understood,  but  wasted  no  time  in  trying 
to  reconcile  discrepancies  not  yet  proved.  Impatient  of 
restraint  upon  opinion,  she  refused  to  think  "  in  traces,"  either 
in  matters  of  science  or  of  theology;  yet  she  never  wavered 
in  her  loving  faith.  To  her  the  divine  word  and  the  divine 
works  together  revealed  one  author  —  her  adorable  Father. 

The  following,' from  a  letter  written  in  1881  or  1882  to 
the  Alumnae  of  the  Northwest,  in  answer  to  inquiries  they 
had  made  about  the  seminary,  is  too  characteristic  to  be 


12  LYDIA    W.  SHATTUCK. 

omitted.  It  has  also  a  separate  value  for  what  it  shows  of 
the  seminary  at  that  time,  though  the  progress  of  the  last  ten 
years  in  methods  and  additional  equipments  makes  it  on  some 
points  quite  out  of  date  : 

"After  due  deliberation  I  proceed  to  number  and  answer  your 
questions. 

"  i st.  Do  you  refuse  to  admit  new  theories  founded  upon  mod- 
ern discoveries  in  geology  ?  I  reply  :  Our  text-book  in  geology  is 
Dana.  Perhaps  he  is  antiquated,  but  he  still  lives,  and  is  used  in 
our  colleges.  Other  authors  to  whom  we  send  our  students  are 
Lyell,  Dawson,  McCausland,  McCosh,  Cook,  Winchell,  La  Conte, 
Gray,  St.  George  Mivart,  Duke  of  Argyle,  Tyndall,  Darwin,  Huxley, 
Spencer,  and  I  might  add  the  names  of  quite  a  number  of  sponta- 
neous-generation writers.  Now  if  your  question  assumes  that  we 
fail  to  teach  our  classes  that  the  theories  of  all  these  will  stand,  or 
even  that  we  ourselves  know  exactly  how  the  worlds  were  made,  we 
plead  guilty.  We  do  strive  to  make  them  intelligent  on  modern 
theories  and  established  laws,  and  to  discriminate  carefully  between 
them.  We  have  upon  the  walls  of  our  geological  and  mineralogi- 
cal  recitation  room  a  fresco  map  of  the  surface  geology  of  the 
United  States  and  Territories  as  known  three  years  ago.  It  is 
the  best  thing  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  and  occupies  the  whole 
east  side  of  the  room.  We  have  casts,  footprints,  etc.,  occupying 
more  than  an  entire  story  in  Williston  Hall,  illustrating  the  fauna 
and  flora  of  geologic  ages. 

"  But  perhaps  your  question  means  to  ask  whether  we  have 
thrown  the  Bible  overboard.  I  reply :  We  never  did  use  it  as  a 
text-book  for  science,  and  we  do  not  now.  And  yet,  if  I  may  give 
mine  opinion,  I  think  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis  will  stand,  if  man 
will  only  use  that  wonderful  measure  of  duration  which  divine  wis- 
dom put  into  the  very  first  statement  of  limitation :  '  And  there 
was  evening,  and  there  was  morning,  one  day.'  The  long  evening 
of  darkness  from  the  sowing  of  the  spaces  of  our  little  solar  system 
with  molecules  of  elemental  planetary  dust,  until  God's  energy 
moved  them  and  '  light  was '  — this  was  the  rule  by  which  to  measure 
duration  which  had  not  yet  been  clipped  by  the  great  shears  of 
terrestrial  rotation.  Does  any  man  know  how  long  that  measure 
was?  .  .  . 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  13 

"  2d.  Are  examinations  oral  or  written  ?  The  entering  exami- 
nations are  mostly  written.  The  escaping  ones  are  oral,  or  from 
written  questions  drawn  at  random.  Our  dependence,  however, 
for  the  status  in  scholarship,  is  not  on  the  closing  examination,  but 
upon  the  manifest  results  of  the  daily  drill  in  development  of  power 
to  think  clearly  and  accurately  on  the  subject  in  hand.  We 
do  believe  that  public,  oral  examination  helps  our  young  ladies  to 
maintain  a  certain  dignity  of  bearing  in  circumstances  equivalent 
to  'standing  fire,'  as  soldiers  call  it.  We  still  believe  that  our 
anniversary  should  show  a  little  of  what  women  can  do,  and  have 
done,  instead  of  becoming  an  occasion  to  hear  only  what  some 
smart  man  can  say  to  them. 

"3d.  Does  scholarship  determine  promotion?  I  answer: 
Did  it  ever  do  otherwise  at  Mount  Holyoke?  Almost  none  com- 
plete the  prescribed  course  in  two  years;  more  stay  three,  most 
four,  some  five  and  some  six,  the  latter  usually  taking  extra  instruc- 
tion in  either  Latin,  Greek,  mathematics,  literature,  history  of  art, 
or  one  or  more  of  the  sciences. 

"  4th.  Are  graduates  of  one  year  made  teachers  the  next  ? 
Yes,  sometimes.  I  think  there  have  been  three  or  four  such  cases 
in  the  last  decade.  There  is  a  certain  unifying  tendency  between 
teachers  and  scholars  in  the  arrangement,  that  we  like,  when  just 
the  right  candidate  appears ;  but  we  must  confess  that  she  is  a  rara 
avis,  and  so  the  thing  does  not  often  happen. 

"  Perhaps  the  import  of  the  question  is  this :  With  your  sys- 
tem of  self-perpetuation,  how  do  you  gather  new  ideas  and  methods 
of  teaching,  or  make  progress  in  any  line  ?  I  answer :  Our  music, 
French,  German,  and  often  physiology,  is  taught  by  those  educated 
elsewhere.  Our  own  teachers  have  gone  from  here  to  study  Greek 
and  botany  at  Harvard ;  chemistry  and  mineralogy  at  Boston  and 
Worcester  schools  of  Technology  ;  mathematics,  Greek,  and  astron- 
omy at  Dartmouth. 

"Our  lecturers  the  last  two  years  have  been  :  Professor  C.  A. 
Young,  of  Princeton,  on  physics  and  astronomy ;  Professor  C.  O. 
Thompson,  of  Worcester,  on  chemistry ;  Mr.  Goodyear,  of  Cooper 
Institute,  on  art ;  Professor  Hitchcock,  of  Dartmouth,  on  geology — 
a  pretty  decided  evolutionist  he  is  too ;  Dr.  John  Lord,  on  history ; 


14  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

besides  others  for  single  lectures  or  shorter  courses.  Joseph  Cook 
has  given  two  courses  since  he  began  his  Monday  lectureship. 

"Our  library  has  a  fund  from  which  it  is  able  to  get  some  of 
the  recent  publications  of  the  best  authors  yearly. 

"We  take  these  magazines  of  foreign  issue:  Westminster 
Review,  Edinburgh  Review,  Quarterly  Review,  Revue  des  Deux 
Mondes,  Contemporary  Review,  Blackwood's  Magazine,  Fraser's 
Magazine,  Nature,  Evangelical  Christendom ;  besides  the  ordinary 
magazines  and  publications  of  our  own  land,  which  I  will  not  stop 
to  enumerate. 

"  You  may  remember  the  very  limited  time  given  to  the  study 
of  literature  years  ago  when  Paradise  Lost  was  our  only  text-book. 
Now  we  give  three  months  to  the  study  of  English  literature  under 
a  teacher  who  has  given  her  whole  attention  to  the  subject  for 
years,  having  no  other  classes.  This  involves  a  critical  study  of 
numbers  of  our  best  English  authors.  The  same  length  of  time  is 
given  to  ancient  literature  in  the  senior  year,  which  means  a  thor- 
ough analysis  of  the  Iliad  and  of  Greek  tragedy,  with  considerable 
acquaintance  with  Sanskrit,  Roman  and  old  German  literature. 

"  I  might  speak  extensively  of  our  work  in  the  chemical  labo- 
ratory, where  pupils  spend  months,  and  sometimes  even  a  year  or 
more,  in  analysis  and  experiment ;  of  our  enthusiastic  zoologists 
and  their  teacher ;  of  our  instruction  in  drawing  from  models,  by 
one  of  the  pupils  of  Walter  Smith,  of  Boston.  But  time  would  fail 
me  and  your  patience  would  be  exhausted ;  so  I  will  close  by  say- 
ing, Come  and  see" 

A  passage  of  a  different  kind,  but  equally  characteristic, 
is  found  in  a  letter  written  after  a  change  of  rooms  unexpect- 
edly and  unavoidably  caused  by  repairs  in  her  absence :  "  The 
torment  of '  things '  has  been  revealed  to  me  in  a  new  light. 
How  do  housekeepers  live  who  pull  up  and  clean  house 
twice  a  year  ?  What  disposal  do  they  make  of  the  big  things 
and  the  little  things ;  the  round,  square,  and  triangular  things ; 
the  thin  things  and  the  thick  things ;  the  fragile  things  and  the 
things  that  long  to  break  them  ?  I  oh'd  '  for  a  lodge  in  some 
vast  wilderness/  where  things  could  never  reach  me  more! 
There  is  a  queer  kind  of  feeling  in  being  told, '  Your  things 


.  •  u 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  15 

have  all  been  moved.'  Then  you  begin  to  realize  that 
'  things  '  are  a  part  of  yourself  in  a  kind  of  mysterious  way, 
and  you  don't  want  them  scanned  too  closely.  It  is  much  as 
if  you  had  died  and  come  to  life  again  to  see  what  people 
were  doing  with  your  things.  Well,  I  have  gotten  the  things 
into  89,  but  how  I  am  going  to  keep  in  my  head  the  new 
places  they  must  occupy  is  a  grave  question.  I  think  some 
of  burning  all  I  cannot  hang  up,  as  Bluebeard  did  his  wives. 
What  do  you  suppose  he  hung  them  up  for  ?  It  surely  could 
not  be  so  that  he  could  find  them.  Now  I  will  stop  my  non- 
sense and  tell  you  the  news." 

What  Miss  Shattuck  accomplished  as  a  student  and 
teacher  of  science,  with  something  of  what  she  gained  for 
science  and  the  seminary  at  the  island  of  Penikese  in  1873, 
at  the  Centennial  Exposition  in  1876,  and  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands  in  1886-87,  will  appear  in  the  subjoined  sketch  by  her 
successor  in  the  department  of  botany.  Mention  has  been 
made  of  her  trip  to  the  Great  Lakes  in  1868.  In  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1869  she  was  traveling  in  Europe.  With  a  teach- 
ers' convention  she  went  from  the  White  Mountains  on  an 
excursion  to  Montreal,  Quebec,  and  the  Saguenay,  in  1878; 
and  with  Miss  Edwards  to  the  exposition  at  New  Orleans  in 
the  Christmas  vacation  of  1884. 

After  the  opening  of  the  Huguenot  and  neighboring 
seminaries  she  was  desired  —  but  was  not  spared  from  Mount 
Holyoke  —  to  go  to  South  Africa  to  study  and  classify  the 
flora  of  that  region  and  prepare  a  botany  for  their  use. 

In  1871  Miss  Peabody  sought  her  aid,  for  the  summer,. 
in  the  department  of  botany  at  the  seminary  in  Oxford,  Ohio. 
But  her  stay  there  was  cut  short  by  the  burning  of  the  semi- 
nary building  in  April.  Most  of  her  wardrobe  was  destroyed, 
with  many  souvenirs  of  her  European  trip.  She  was  wel- 
comed back  to  South  Hadley  in  May. 

Wherever  she  went  she  found  former  pupils.  Her  home- 
ward journey  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  1887  was  marked 
at  San  Francisco  and  at  the  Western  Holyokes  by  gatherings  of 


l  LYDIA    W.   SHATTUCK. 

alumnae  that  were  miniatures  of  the  Jubilee  in  June.  No  less 
pleasing  to  her  was  her  reception  at  the  seminary,  Saturday 
morning,  April  30,  at  the  end  of  her  year's  absence.  When 
the  promised  signal  announced  the  approach  of  the  carriage 
sent  to  bring  her,  the  young  ladies  —  dropping  book  or  work 
or  pen  —  assembled  on  the  front  piazzas  to  sing  her  a  welcome 
home. 

Her  love  of  home  and  friends  was  strong  and  tender. 
On  going  from  the  seminary  anniversary  to  her  New  Hamp- 
shire home  in  1857,  she  wrote  of  her  arrival  in  these  words : 

"At  A *s  I  found  Nellie,  and  father  came  soon  after. 

Together  we  trod  the  old  familiar  paths,  rejoicing  that  we 
had  met  again,  and  soon  the  dear  homestead,  with  its  over- 
shadowing elm,  greeted  my  streaming  eyes." 

All  alumnae  whom  she  has  had  the  privilege  of  welcoming 
back  to  alma  mater  know  the  cordiality  of  her  greeting,  and 
understand  the  feeling  of  one  who  writes :  "  I  went  back  to 
the  seminary,  a  few  months  after  graduating,  with  the  feeling 
all  graduates  must  have,  that  I  no  longer  belonged  there. 
But  when  I  received  Miss  Shattuck's  warm  welcome,  I  felt  as 
much  a  Holyoke  girl  again  as  I  had  ever  been."  Those  whom 
she  has  received  with  open  arms,  exclaiming,  "  You  dear 
child!"  and  those  who  have  heard  her  fondly  earnest  way  of 
referring  to  "my  Anna"  —  the  friend  of  forty  years  who  was 
so  long  her  room-mate  —  or  have  been  privileged  to  read  the 
letters  she  wrote  when  far  away,  will  testify  to  the  abiding 
strength  of  her  affection.  If  her  low  estimate  of  herself, 
and  lier  retiring  nature,  sometimes  retarded  an  appreciation 
of  her  worth,  "  she  was,"  as  Miss  Jessup  says,  "  so  unselfish, 
so  thoughtful  for  others,  so  ardent  in  her  friendships,  and  so 
true  in  all  her  intercourse  with  her  friends,  that  to  know  her 
was  to  love  her." 

While  one  of  the  alumnae  writes,  "  Holyoke  has  no 
other  graduate  who  has  earned  the  enviable  position  which 
for  years  has  been  accorded  to  Miss  Shattuck  in  the  scientific 
world,"  others  speak  as  follows  : 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  17 

"  She  was  one  of  the  teachers  who  left  a  lifelong  influence 
upon  my  mind." 

"Two  things  I  shall  always  connect  with  her  memory.  One 
is  the  warm  love  she  had  for  us  all ;  the  other  is  the  Tuesday  even- 
ing general  recess  meeting.  She  spoke  of  spiritual  things  with 
such  earnestness  and  feeling,  we  knew  that  to  her  they  were  very 
real,  and  of  necessity  she  led  us  to  a  firmer  faith." 

"  *  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart '  has  always  been  a  different 
text  to  me  since  she  made  it  so  plain  that  spiritual  vision  is  in  pro- 
portion to  cleanness  of  heart." 

"  I  shall  never  forget  the  impression  received  one  evening  in 
the  seminary  hall,  when  she  turned  our  thoughts  to  the  majestic, 
unchanging  power  and  love  of  the  infinite  God;  nor  her  deeply 
reverent  rendering  of  the  hymn  beginning, 

*  Great  God,  how  infinite  art  thou  J ' 
especially  the  lines, 

*  While  thine  eternal  thoughts  move  on 

Thine  undisturbed  affairs.' " 

"  She  had  vivid  conceptions  of  divine  truth,  and  made  it  vivid 
to  her  listeners.  She  hated  evil  in  every  form,  and  her  vehement 
disapprobation  was  sometimes  startling  in  its  utterance.  Always 
a  lover  of  beauty  in  nature,  as  she  advanced  in  years  she  was  more 
and  more  profoundly  impressed  with  the  beauty  of  holiness." 

Says  one  who  was  associated  with  her  in  study  and 
in  teaching  :  "  Her  character  when  she  entered  the  seminary 
was  marked  with  those  noble  traits  that  shone  in  after 
life.  Most  of  the  alumnae  knew  her  personally — her  faithful- 
ness, her  conscientious  devotion,  and  somewhat  of  the  good 
results  to  the  seminary  of  her  untiring  labors.  You  who 
have  labored  with  her  in  later  years  have  not  been  uncon- 
scious of  the  beautiful  maturity  of  that  strong  nature.  When 
I  last  saw  her  I  was  struck  with  the  softened  loveliness  of  her 
face  and  the  peaceful  tenor  of  her  mind." 

That  she  had  defects  of  character  no  one  knew  better 
than  herself.  Every  strong  nature  has  its  weaknesses,  and 


1 8  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

though  hers  were  comparatively  few  and  slight,  it  would  pain 
her  to  be  represented  as  having  none. 

The  seminary  journal  for  1871  contains  the  following 
account  of  a  surprise  gathering,  and  the  gift  of  a  gold  watch 
and  chain  on  her  fiftieth  birthday  : 

"  Monday,  the  loth,  was  one  of  the  most  perfect  days  of  June. 
Miss  Shattuck  had  various  plans  of  her  own  which  we  were  obliged 
to  persuade  her  to  abandon,  and  when  afternoon  recitations  were 
over  it  became  necessary  to  keep  careful  guard  over  her  move- 
ments and  resort  to  all  manner  of  devices  to  keep  her  away  from 
the  basement  and  seminary  hall.  But  after  the  arrival  (unexpected 
to  her)  of  her  old  room-mate  when  a  pupil,  Mrs.  Dr.  Paine,  of 
Albany,  she  was  content  to  stay  quietly  in  her  room  and  visit  with 
her.  With  great  enthusiasm  the  young  ladies  decorated  the  semi- 
nar}' hall  with  an  abundance  of  ferns,  wild  flowers,  and  greenhouse 
exotics.  When  we  were  nearly  ready  she  was  told  that  friends  were 
waiting  to  see  her,  and  quite  against  her  judgment  was  required 
to  array  herself  in  her  Paris  black  silk  and  submit  to  a  wreath  of 
roses  upon  her  brow,  already  crowned  with  shining,  snow-white 
hair.  She  was  beautiful  that  night  with  a  beauty  that  youth  may 
look  forward  to  and  strive  for,  but  must  wait  long  years  to  obtain. 
With  perfect  innocence  she  remarked  that  she  had  long  intended 
to  buy  herself  a  gold  watch  when  she  reached  the  age  of  fifty,  but 
since  her  losses  by  the  Oxford  fire  she  had  supposed  she  ought  not 
to  think  of  it  at  present.  Lest  one  so  easily  moved  to  tears  should 
be  quite  overcome  by  too  sudden  a  surprise,  she  was  told,  just 
before  entering  the  seminary  hall,  that  she  might  receive  a  gift  in 
the  course  of  the  evening,  but  that,  whatever  might  happen,  she 
must  not  cry  !  She  was  led  past  the  loaded  tables  —  whose  white 
spreads  were  bordered  with  oak  leaves  from  the  woods  and  orna- 
mented with  the  same  dark  green  under  piles  of  plates  and  plates 
of  food  —  and  conducted  to  a  chair  near  the  platform  and  under 
a  canopy  of  the  graceful  rhubarb  blossoms  that  she  admires  so 
much.  Congratulations  from  all  present  were  followed  by  a  poem 
written  and  read  by  Helen  Angell,  of  last  year's  class.  We  have 
room  for  only  these  lines  : 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  19 

"  '  The  patient  aloe  waits  a  hundred  years 

The  gorgeous  bloom  that  drains  its  life  away. 
Sooner  than  that  thy  snowy  crown  appears, 
And  thou  shalt  wear  it  through  the  gates  of  day. 


"  '  Yet  stay  with  us  fifty  years  longer ; 

God's  glory  shall  never  grow  old  I 
And  we  for  thy  presence  are  stronger ; 

Thy  smile  is  more  precious  than  gold. 
We  who  remain  when  the  century  closes 
Will  crown  thee  again  with  lilies  and  roses.' 

"  The  watch  was  then  presented  by  Mr.  Bridgman,  after  a 
speech  combining  the  playful  and  earnest  with  such  good  effect 
that,  although  Miss  Shattuck  was  almost  overwhelmed,  she  found} 
no  place  for  tears  during  the  evening.  After  refreshments  of  cake 
and  ice  cream,  with  frequent  music  by  the  young  ladies,  Mr.  Bliss,. 
our  pastor,  led  our  thoughts  in  prayer." 

Her  sixtieth  anniversary  was  observed  in  a  more  quiet 
way.  The  teachers  met  informally  in  her  room  —  the  north 
wing  parlor  —  bringing  a  profusion  of  roses  and  other  floral 
gifts.  Perhaps  no  remembrance  pleased  her  more  that  day 
than  a  bunch  of  sixty  four-leaved  clovers  gathered  for  her 
from  the  fields  by  one  of  her  botany  girls. 

The  following  picture  of  Miss  Shattuck  at  the  semi-cen- 
tennial reunion  in  1887  was  drawn  by  a  graduate  of  1858  for 
her  own  classmates  : 

"  Dear  Miss  Shattuck  was  the  presiding  genius  of  all  the 
hostesses  to  greet  us  on  that  memorable  occasion.  Can  you  not 
see  her  —  her  sweet  dignity  of  manner,  her  gracious  way  of  speak- 
ing, always  with  gentleness  and  thought  (for  hers  were  never 
careless  lips),  and  her  wealth  of  white  hair,  wavy  and  silky?  She 
was  most  becomingly  arrayed  in  summer  dress  of  steel-gray  silk, 
with  handsome  trimmings.  A  missionary,  with  whom  we  were 
chatting  awhile,  had  in  her  hand  strings  of  white  shells  and  red> 
beads  such  as  the  natives  wear.  Playfully  she  threw  them  around 
Miss  Shattuck's  neck,  and  the  effect  was  so  pleasing  we  teased 
her,  like  children,  to  wear  them.  ;.  and  she  did.for  a  time,  for  she  liked 


20  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

to  gratify  us.     She  was  so  grand  in  her  crown  of  years,  this  woman 
of  wonderful  attainment  and  childlike  humility  !  " 

At  this  reunion  she  was  asked  to  address  the  alumnae 
on  "  The  Seminary  and  Science."  Her  own  identity  with  the 
progressive  spirit  stamped  upon  the  institution  by  Miss  Lyon 
appears  in  the  following  sentences  from  that  address : 

"  In  the  very  beginning  of  the  seminary,  science  had  a  promi- 
nent place  in  its  course  of  study.  Botany  was  in  both  the  first  and 
second  years  of  the  three  years'  course.  Chemistry,  geology, 
astronomy,  natural  philosophy,  physiology,  and  philosophy  of  nat- 
ural history  had  each  its  appointed  place  —  seven  sciences  in  a 
^course  of  twenty-three  studies.  Names  have  changed  since  then, 
.and  work  has  broadened ;  botany  and  zoology  have  stretched  out 
into  the  deeper  researches  of  biology.  In  chemistry,  in  the  early 
years,  Miss  Lyon  was  the  enthusiastic  teacher  and  experimenter. 
That  she  was  a  successful  one,  several  now  present  can  testify. 
In  geology  she  listened  eagerly  to  the  testimony  of  the  rocks,  and 
joined  a  party  led  by  President  Hitchcock,  of  Amherst,  on  a  tour 
of  investigation.  At  that  very  time  many  of  his  ministerial  breth- 
ren were  branding  him  as  a  heretic  for  his  views  of  the  six  days  of 
creation.  Miss  Lyon  had  none  of  the  spirit  of  the  Brahman  who 
pulverized  the  microscope  because  it  showed  him  animal  life  in  his 
.food.  She  stood  calmly  by  while  the  opening  leaves  of  the  earth's 
rocky  crust  revealed  ages  between  the  beginning  and  the  first  liv- 
ing thing.  I  have  yet  to  learn  that,  because  of  these  studies,  any 
of  our  students  have  become  less  reverent  toward  the  Bible,  or  less 
confident  of  the  divine  love  and  care.  Our  non-resident  professors 
give  us  credit  for  doing  good  work  in  science.  One  of  them 
recently  suggested  that  in  future,  as  a  college,  we  give  a  special 
scientific  direction  to  our  pursuits ;  '  for,'  said  he,  '  there  is  an  ear- 
nest spirit  of  study  here  favorable  to  scientific  research,  and  science 
does  not  tolerate  any  half-way  work.' 

"  Since,  therefore,  the  instruction  of  the  seminary  has  had 
a  scientific  trend  from  the  first,  without  tendency  to  convert  us  into 
agnostics  or  infidels ;  since  this  is  a  scientific  age  and  we  are  bound 
to  keep  abreast  of  the  times  ;  since  every  college  has  its  own  partic- 
ular individuality  —  let  us  press  onward  in  these  lines  till  we  obtain 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH.  21 

full  recognition  among  the  colleges  of  New  England,  claiming  the 
right  to  confer  degrees  whenever  it  can  be  shown  that  our  pupils 
have  done  as  much  and  as  good  work  as  other  colleges  require  for 
the  same  degrees." 

Her  closing  words  were  these  : 

"You  will  pardon  a  few  words  of  personal  reminiscence 
and  grateful  acknowledgment.  Some  of  you  will  remember  our 
long  walks  together  in  search  of  oxalis  and  orchids,  gold-thread 
and  lady's  slippers.  Some  of  you  have  been  lost  on  mountain  and 
plain  in  the  interests  of  science.  Some  of  you  have  made  us  glad 
by  gifts  to  the  botanic  garden  and  the  gift  of  the  greenhouse. 
From  many  we  have  had  kind  letters  and  kind  wishes  and  multi- 
tudes of  helpful  words  and  deeds.  The  lengthening  shadows 
remind  some  of  us  that  it  is  almost  time  to  go  home  and  rest.  In 
that  glad  morning  when  the  tireless  spirit  shall  be  clad  in  a  body 
as  tireless  as  itself,  when  our  eyes  shall  see  the  King  in  his  beauty 
and  we  shall  behold  the  land  that  is  very  far  off,  where  our  Elder 
Brother  shall  wrap  all  who  are  his  own  in  the  vestments  of  fine 
linen,  pure  and  white,  may  we,  every  one,  be  found  at  his  right 
hand !  " 

For  her  that  glad  morning  was  nearer  than  we  thought. 
Until  about  the  age  of  sixty  her  general  health  had  been  very 
good,  but  after  that  her  throat  and  lungs  were  in  so  sensitive 
a  state  that  she  was  counseled  to  avoid  a  temperature  lower 
than  summer  heat.  To  do  so  in  this  climate  involved  the 
great  trial  of  shutting  herself  within  doors  for  months  at 
a  time.  Much  was  hoped  from  her  stay  at  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  but  a  cold  taken  on  the  return  journey  lessened  or 
destroyed  the  benefit  received,  and  her  strength  continued 
to  fail.  Unequal  to  the  vigorous  labors  of  former  years,  her 
activities  in  behalf  of  the  institution  increased  in  other  direc- 
tions. In  her  last  years  she  made  it  a  rule  to  obtain  as  much 
in  gifts  for  the  seminary  and  college  as  she  received  from  its 
treasury  for  her  own  salary.  For  the  summer  of  1889  she 
went  to  relatives  in  Hartford,  Vermont,  where  she  remained 
till  she  was  taken  back  to  South  Hadley,  October  17.  It 


22  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

gave  her  inexpressible  comfort  to  return  and  to  be  in  her  old 
room  again  —  the  one  that  was  Miss  Fiske's  after  her  return 
from  Persia.  Though  extremely  feeble  from  a  complication 
of  heart,  lung,  and  kidney  difficulties,  she  expected  to  survive 
the  winter.  But  her  friends  felt  that  the  end  was  near.  All 
that  the  best  of  nursing  and  medical  skill  could  do  continued 
to  be  done  till  she  gently  passed  away,  Saturday  afternoon, 
November  2. 

Of  the  next  Tuesday,  Miss  Hooker  wrote : 

"  I  wish  it  had  been  the  privilege  of  every  one  of  the  alumnas 
to  be  with  us  that  November  day  when  we  laid  away  from  our  sight 
the  peaceful,  lifelike,  and  still  impressive  face  that  had  always 
been  a  benediction.  In  our  sorrow  and  loss  we  could  not  forget 
that  to  our  Miss  Shattuck,  who  had  been  all  her  life  opening  door 
after  door  of  mystery  to  find  an  utmost  veiled,  it  was  now  the  time 
of  open  vision.  And  so  we  brought  from  the  greenhouse  to 
parlors  and  seminary  hall  our  emblems  of  gladness  and  triumph ; 
palms,  ferns,  and  flowers,  with  evergreens  and  red  berries  from 
the  woods.  A  life-size  portrait  of  Miss  Shattuck,  on  an  easel  in  the 
reception-room,  we  overhung  with  autumn  leaves ;  and  in  the  north 
parlor  we  built  a  high  corner  of  green,  and  filled  the  windows  with 
chrysanthemums.  There  was  the  casket  twined  from  head  to  foot 
with  ivy  from  Miss  Lyon's  grave,  and  covered  with  roses  that  the 
young  ladies  brought  until  the  ivy  branches  caught  them  falling 
over  the  sides  to  the  rug  below,  while  an  armful  of  long-stemmed 
roses  stood  against  the  green  background  at  the  casket's  head. 
Alumnae  from  Holyoke  and  vicinity  brought  beautiful  floral  trib- 
utes, and  among  them  a  pillow  of  fleecy-white  Japanese  chrysan- 
themums, veiled  with  the  delicate  green  of  the  maiden-hair.  It 
looked  like  Miss  Shattuck,  people  said. 

"  The  friends,  faculty,  and  students  in  the  seminary  hall  were 
seated  facing  the  reception-room,  near  which  were  the  officiat- 
ing clergymen — J.  L.  R.  Trask,  Luther  H.  Cone,  Dr.  Burnham, 
of  Springfield,  and  Dr.  Laurie,  of  Providence.  The  college  quar- 
tette sang  'Rest  for  the  Toiling  Hand,'  and  the  twenty-third  Psalm 
was  read,  with  Rev.  vii :  9-17.  It  was  especially  fitting  that  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH.  23 

sermon  and  prayer  were  by  Dr.  Laurie,  who  was  at  the  same  time 
Miss  Shattuck's  first  seminary  pastor  and  Miss  Lyon's  last. 

"  The  burial  was  in  the  new  cemetery  toward  the  west.  It 
had  been  a  chilling,  gray  day,  with  a  cheerless,  moaning  wind ;  but 
as  the  long  procession  left  the  house  the  dull  blackness  lifted,  and 
we  went  out  into  a  glory  of  red  and  gold  that  we  could  not  shut 
our  hearts  against,  not  even  when,  one  by  one,  we  dropped  our  roses 
upon  the  casket  in  the  evergreen-lined  grave  and  turned  home 
again.  The  promise  had  been  fulfilled  :  '  At  evening  time  it  shall 
be  light.'" 

No  tribute  more  touching  was  given  that  day  than  that 
which  fell  upon  the  casket  from  the  hand  of  Jane  —  poor  Jane, 
who  brought  her  rose  and  threw  it  in  among  the  first,  hav- 
ing made  her  way,  unhindered,  into  the  hollow  square  about 
the  open  grave  while  Dr.  Burnham  was  reading  the  burial 
service. 

Miss  Shattuck  was  our  one  surviving  link  with  Miss 
Lyon.  While  she  lived  the  older  alumnae  felt  a  bond  drawing 
them  back  to  their  school  home.  One  writes  :  "  There  are 
thousands  to  whom  it  will  never  be  the  same  place  without 
the  light  of  her  presence."  We  cannot  say  that  it  is  not  so. 
But  let  all  be  assured  that  those  remaining  in  the  old  home 
who  love  the  memory  of  Mary  Lyon,  bereft  of  the  last  con- 
necting tie  with  her,  will  prize  as  never  before  the  visits  and 
the  letters  of  those  older  Holyoke  daughters. 


MISS    SHATTUCK 

AS    A    STUDENT    AND    TEACHER    OF    SCIENCE. 


BY  HENRIETTA  E.  HOOKER,  PH.  D. 


IT  was  one  evening  in  1869  that  I  had  my  first  glimpse 
of  Miss  Shattuck,  soon  after  her  return  from  Europe.  We 
were  waiting  to  take  seats  at  table,  in  the  seminary  dining- 
hall,  when  an  older  student  next  me  whispered  that  the  one 
with  the  beautiful  white  hair,  whom  I  had  thought  a  visitor, 
was  Miss  Shattuck,  and  that  she  knew  "just  everything  about 
botany."  A  little  later  I  found  myself  in  Miss  Shattuck's 
class  —  a  half-course  class  they  called  us  —  out  of  which  we 
came  after  a  few  weeks  of  study  with  an  herbarium  of  seventy- 
five  spring  plants,  a  list  of  two  hundred  analyzed,  and  some 
general  facts  concerning  the  forms,  structures,  and  relations 
found  in  the  vegetable  world.  But  more  and  better  than  any 
or  all  these  tangible  things,  there  had  come,  to  some  of  us  at 
least,  a  widening  of  vision,  that  brought  with  it  a  knowledge  of 
our  ignorance,  and  a  desire  to  know.  This  inspiration  was  not 
from  books  to  which  we  were  referred  (we  had  but  the  Gray's 
Manual},  not  from  diagrams,  charts,  and  models  (there  were 
none),  and  not  from  the  revelations  of  the  microscope,  for  the 
day  of  compound  microscopes  had  not  dawned  at  South  Had- 
ley ;  but  they  came  from  Miss  Shattuck's  own  self,  and  because 
of  what  she  was.  She  pointed  out  to  us  in  the  plants  we  held 
in  our  hands  the  infinite  variety  and  grace  in  form  and  shad- 
ing, and  the  wonderful  adaptations  in  structure  and  function ; 
but  these  things  were  with  her  only  as  means  to  an  end. 
She  knew  the  words,  "Remember  that  thou  magnify  His 


26  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

works  that  men  behold,"  and  the  climax  of  her  teaching  was 
in  leading  us  to  translate,  from  these  hieroglyphics  with  which 
we  were  dealing,  the  underlying  thought  of  God. 

But  Miss  Shattuck  was  more  to  us  than  a  botanist.  She 
was  a  naturalist  to  whom  it  was  easy,  in  those  field  excursions 
on  which  she  led  us,  to  give  us  charming  glimpses  of  the  food 
for  thought  and  study  in  the  rocks,  clouds,  and  living  crea- 
tures, which  were  as  much  the  subjects  of  her  talks  as  the 
plants  we  sought.  She  taught  us  also  to  love  the  nature- 
poets  and  what  they  said,  and  some  of  those  quotations  by 
the  way,  as  we  botanized  on  mountain  side  or  field  or  shore, 
will  always  suggest  Miss  Shattuck.  This  one  especially,  from 
Whittier,  she  often  quoted : 

"  And  I  will  trust  that  He  who  heeds 

The  life  that  hides  in  mead  and  wold, 
Who  hangs  yon  alder's  crimson  beads, 

And  stains  these  mosses  green  and  gold, 
Will  still,  as  He  hath  done,  incline 
His  gracious  care  to  me  and  mine  ; 
Grant  what  we  ask  aright,  from  wrong  debar, 
And  as  the  earth  grows  dark,  make  brighter  every  star ! " 

Dr.  Laurie's  words  did  not  seem  to  me  overdrawn  when  he 
said,  at  the  burial  service  :  "  I  do  not  know,  but  I  have  a  deep 
conviction,  that  more  than  one  mountain-pasture  and  secluded 
grove  may  have  witnessed  such  communion  between  Christ 
and  her  as  the  bush  at  Horeb  once  witnessed  between 
God  and  Moses." 

True,  there  were  times,  in  class  and  out,  when  we  were 
unable  to  grasp  the  broad  generalizations  and  fine  distinctions 
of  which  her  disciplined  mind  was  capable ;  but  we  felt  that  if 
we  knew  enough  to  ask  questions,  she  would  be  an  oral  refer- 
ence library  to  us.  And  this  she  has  been,  especially  to  her 
associate  teachers,  all  these  later  years. 

There  was  never  the  appearance  of  parading  her  knowl- 
edge, never  of  wonder  at  our  ignorance,  or  of  personal  con- 
ceit in  being  able  to  give  what  was  desired ;  it  was  as  free  as 


AS    A    STUDENT    AND    TEACHER    OF    SCIENCE.  27 

if  our  own  from  the  first.  Even  if  she  were  unable  to  give 
the  definite  information  asked,  there  was  often  in  the  suggest- 
iveness  of  her  well-directed  reply  more  help  than  we  had 
sought;  for  example,  when  asked  for  an  exact  definition  of 
species,  she  replied,  "  If  you  will  settle  that  problem,  it  will 
clear  up  many  other  questions." 

Those  who  have  to  do  with  securing  and  arranging  speci- 
mens of  any  kind  will  realize  how  much  work  is  represented 
in  our  present  cabinets.  The  collections  with  which  Miss 
Shattuck  began  she  could  hold  in  her  "two  hands,"  as  she 
often  said ;  and  now  they  have  outgrown  all  the  space 
we  have  for  them.  The  collecting,  soliciting,  buying,  and 
exchanging  all  these  treasures,  even  if  they  came  labeled 
ready  to  be  placed,  would  be  no  light  undertaking;  but  when 
we  add  to  this  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  the  specimens 
were  unclassified  and  unknown,  there  enters  into  the  account 
a  factor  in  the  study,  preparation,  and  cataloguing  of  them  all, 
that  increases  the  labor  almost  immeasurably. 

First  of  these  in  importance  is  the  herbarium  of  seven 
thousand  plants,  well  mounted,  named  and  in  their  places, 
with  almost  as  many  more  in  packing-boxes,  waiting  their 
roll-call  when  somebody  finds  the  time.  Our  good  alumnae, 
scattered  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  have  remembered  the 
seminary  and  Miss  Shattuck,  and  have  sent  treasures  which, 
in  representing  so  wide  a  foreign  flora,  add  greatly  to  the 
worth  of  our  own,  and  make  a  collection  of  which  any  institu- 
tion could  but  be  proud.  It  was  still  further  enriched  by 
Miss  Shattuck's  visit  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands  three  years  ago, 
both  by  the  additions  she  secured,  and  by  the  information 
concerning  tropical  growths  that  enabled  her  to  name  many 
plants  that  had  long  been  awaiting  classification.  The  valua- 
ble seed  collections  secured  from  the  Centennial  exhibit  in 
Philadelphia,  increased  by  those  representing  hundreds  of 
species  gathered  and  labeled  by  her  own  hand ;  the  sections 
of  native  and  foreign  woods,  prepared  under  Miss  Shattuck's 
supervision ;  the  hundreds,  perhaps  thousands,  of  specimens 


28  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

of  all  sorts  and  from  everywhere  in  the  world,  on  which 
we  are  now  at  work,  illustrating  the  economic  uses  of  plants, 
as  food,  medicines,  for  manufactures,  and  in  the  arts  —  all 
these  have  made  us  wonder  at  the  amount  accomplished,  even 
with  the  patience,  painstaking,  and  energy  with  which  these 
forty  years  of  service  have  been  filled,  and  the  wonder  would 
be  greater  to  one  not  understanding  Miss  Shattuck's  methods. 
If  time  were  lacking,  she  knew  how  to  clip  a  bit  from  one  end 
or  the  other  of  vacation,  or  how  not  to  hear  the  retiring  bell 
at  night.  Many  such  omissions  the  first  compound  micro- 
scope of  the  institution,  which  came  not  far  from  1870,  could 
reveal,  when,  night  after  night,  alternately  studying  and 
throwing  herself  upon  her  bed  to  rest,  she  worked  until  the 
hours  grew  late.  She  said  to  a  teacher  with  her  at  one 
of  these  times,  "What  would  I  have  thought  when  a  girl, 
if  any  one  had  told  me  I  should  some  day  have  the  use  of 
such  a  microscope  as  this  ! "  She  lived  to  see  twenty-six  such 
microscopes  in  our  laboratories. 

If  Miss  Shattuck  believed  the  time  had  come  for  some 
new  piece  of  apparatus  in  her  own  or  another  department,  or 
if  some  appliance  for  household  comfort  seemed  indispensable 
—  like  steam  heating,  the  elevator,  the  artesian  well  —  and 
the  trustees  shook  their  heads  over  the  state  of  our  finances 
and  said  we  must  wait,  such  words  were  tonic  to  Miss  Shat- 
tuck, who  became  immediately  a  self-appointed  committee  of 
ways  and  means.  It  was  largely  through  her  decision  and 
perseverance,  beginning  with  a  collection  taken  up  at  her 
table  one  day,  that  the  elevator  was  introduced  in  1880. 
Her  suggestion  to  the  Meriden  Cutlery  Company  in  1875, 
how  they  might  obtain  daily  benedictions  from  a  family  of 
three  hundred,  brought  the  response  from  one  of  the  firm  : 
"Corporations  have  no  souls;  but  inasmuch  as  my  wife  was 
a  Holyoke  graduate,  I  would  like  to  secure  those  benedictions 
for  myself."  With  the  message  came  three  hundred  silver 
knives.  Later  desiderata  were  a  greenhouse  and  a  botanic 
garden.  The  plants  of  the  immediate  vicinity,  so  often  shorn 


AS  A  STUDENT  AND  TEACHER  OF  SCIENCE.          29 

of  their  glories,  were  retreating  farther  and  farther,  "  withdraw- 
ing their  skirts  from  us,"  as  she  said,  which  meant  loss  to  the 
classes  thus  deprived  of  the  opportunity  to  watch  the  behavior 
of  the  plants  at  work;  it  was  also  desirable  to  become  familiar 
with  a  wider  flora  and  with  tropical  forms.  Then  the  out- 
going mails  grew  heavier,  and  Miss  Shattuck's  excursions  to 
the  hills  and  meadows  more  frequent.  True,  the  brambles 
did  not  turn  aside  for  her,  nor  she  for  them,  as  her  garments 
sometimes  testified  on  her  return,  nor  had  the  breezes  due 
respect  for  her  snowy  hair;  and  if  her  steps  were  a  little 
slower,  her  breath  a  bit  hurried,  and  her  face  more  ruddy  than 
usual  when  she  came  home,  there  was  never  lacking  bright- 
ness in  her  eye,  or  enthusiasm  in  her  voice,  as  she  announced, 
"Well,  I  got  rny  pitchers,"  or  "orchids,"  or  "dragons,"  or 
whatever  the  treasures  sought.  And  many  a  time  at  evening, 
after  such  an  excursion  (for  we  had  no  gardener  then),  we 
would  see  her  disappearing  with  box  and  trowel  over  the  brow 
of  the  hill  toward  the  little  plowed  spot  below,  that  some 
choice  find  might  awaken  in  its  new  home  in  the  morning. 
So  the  botanic  garden  grew,  and  when  the  letters  came  in,  one 
day,  a  greenhouse  check  came  with  them. 

But  that  we  of  Mount  Holyoke  are  not  alone  in  appre- 
ciating Miss  Shattuck's  worth  and  work,  the  many  letters 
from  persons  of  distinction  found  among  her  papers  testify. 
The  questions  discussed  in  these  letters  concerning  the  deep 
things  of  nature,  the  advice  they  asked  and  their  thanks  for 
help  given,  show  the  estimation  in  which  this  simple,  unos- 
tentatious woman  was  held  in  the  world  of  science ;  and  promi- 
nent among  the  signatures  is  that  of  one  who  subscribed  him- 
self always,  "  Your  old  friend,  Asa  Gray."  Miss  Shattuck 
was  a  member  of  various  botanical  societies ;  at  one  time  she 
was  president  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  Botanical  Associa- 
tion, and  in  1889  was  elected  a  corporate  member  of  the 
Marine  Biological  Laboratory  of  Wood's  Holl. 

It  is  interesting  to  go  back  from  this  summit  in  Miss 
Shattuck's  life  over  some  of  the  paths  by  which  she  climbed, 


30  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

and  to  the  difficulties  that  she  encountered.  The  fact  that 
she  knew,  by  their  local  names  and  general  properties,  most 
of  the  common  plants  of  her  neighborhood  before  leaving 
home,  illustrates  her  early  tendencies;  but  it  is  not  strange 
that  one  who  studied  plants  in  their  native  haunts,  associating 
them  rather  with  the  nooks  and  crannies  and  shady  dells  of 
the  New  Hampshire  hills  than  with  the  pages  of  books  or 
scientific  names,  should  find  difficulty  in  beginning  systematic 
study,  particularly  with  the  artificial  keys  then  in  use.  In 
referring  to  these  days,  Miss  Shattuck  never  failed  to  mention 
with  gratitude  the  encouragement  given  by  one,  then  her 
room-mate,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  Paine  of  Albany,  from  whose  stimu- 
lating aid  she  dated  her  love  for  botany  as  a  science,  in  dis- 
tinction from  her  lifelong  love  of  flowers.  Mrs.  Paine  speaks 
with  characteristic  modesty  of  her  own  connection  with  it, 
but  mentions  many  proofs  of  Miss  Shattuck' s  growing  enthu- 
siasm. Among  them  is  an  account  of  her  coming  in  one  day, 
when  a  student,  almost  beside  herself  with  joy  over  the  float- 
ing heart,  a  water  plant  which  she  had  seen  for  the  first  time, 
and  of  which  she  said,  when  asked  how  she  secured  it,  "  Oh, 
I  waded  for  it — with  bare  feet — there  was  no  other  way  ! " 

It  was  natural  that  botany  should  be  one  of  the  subjects 
Miss  Shattuck  was  asked  to  teach  on  her  return  to  the  semi- 
nary after  graduation ;  but  it  would  have  been  very  unusual 
in  those  early  days  had  it  been  the  only  branch  intrusted  to 
her.  So  it  happened  that  there  was  scarcely  anything  in  the 
curriculum  that  was  not  at  one  time  or  another  in  her  hands. 
In  these  days  of  specialties,  such  scattering  work  would  not 
be  considered  advantageous  as  a  preparation  for  science  teach- 
ing. She  regretted,  truly,  for  her  pupils'  sake,  the  amount  of 
territory  she  was  thus  obliged  to  cover,  but,  looking  upon  it 
as  an  opportunity  for  broadening  her  own  vision,  she  dug  as 
deep  as  she  could,  and  brought  to  others  what  her  time  would 
allow.  This  foundation-laying  along  so  many  different  lines, 
with  her  ability  to  sift  and  assimilate  the  gleanings  from  the 
wide  reading  of  her  after  life,  gave  her  the  general  informa- 


AS   A   STUDENT   AND   TEACHER   OF   SCIENCE.  31 

tion  and  broad  culture  which  every  one  who  talked  with  her 
recognized. 

Chemistry  stood  next  to  botany  in  Miss  Shattuck's  affec- 
tion ;  her  last  work  was  in  soliciting  funds  for  the  new  build- 
ing in  which  she  hoped  to  see  it  established,  and  she  remem- 
bered it  equally  with  botany  in  her  will.  For  all  the  college 
departments,  however,  Miss  Shattuck  did  much  by  her  inter- 
est, by  her  appreciation  of  work  done,  and  by  stimulating  and 
encouraging  those  in  charge  to  learn  about  methods  in  other 
institutions,  and  to  become  best  fitted  for  their  work  in  every 
possible  way.  Especially  was  this  the  case  after  her  own 
summer  in  the  school  of  Professor  Agassiz  at  Penikese  in 
1873.  Perhaps  no  equal  period  of  her  life  had  as  much  joy 
and  satisfaction  in  it,  and  her  enthusiasm  concerning  it  never 
waned.  Beautiful  testimonials  have  come  to  us  from  her 
companions  in  study  of  what  her  presence  was  there.  Presi- 
dent Jordan  of  Indiana  University  says :  "  She  was  to  all  of 
us  a  gentle  and  delightful  presence ;  she  was  always  serene 
and  helpful  and  interested.  I  have  a  very  vivid  recollection 
of  first  seeing  her  among  a  circle  of  her  friends  and  students 
on  the  little  tug-boat  that  took  us  to  Penikese,  and  of  wonder- 
ing who  she  was.  Afterwards  I  was  introduced  to  her  by 
Professor  Agassiz,  and,  as  a  young  botanist,  was  much  in  her 
society.  To  me  she  seemed  to  have  a  good  many  things  in 
common  with  Agassiz.  She  was  quiet  where  he  was  demon- 
strative, but  she  had  the  same  way  of  looking  at  the  divine 
in  nature,  and  the  same  broad  views  of  human  life.  '  The 
best  friend  student  ever  had/  some  one  called  Agassiz  in  her 
presence.  She  thought  it  well  said,  and  I  thought  it  might 
as  well  be  said  of  her." 


SERMON. 


BY  REV.  THOMAS  LAURIE,  D.D.,  OF  PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 


"And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying,  See,  I  have  called  by  name  Bezaleel  the  son 
of  Uri,  the  son  of  Hur,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah:  and  I  have  filled  him  with  the  spirit  of  God, 
in  wisdom,  and  in  understanding,  and  in  knowledge,  and  in  all  manner  of  workmanship,  to 
devise  cunning  works,  to  work  in  gold,  and  in  silver,  and  in  brass,  and  in  cutting  of  stones,  to  set 
them,  and  in  carving  of  timber,  to  work  in  all  manner  of  workmanship.  And  I,  behold,  I  have 
given  with  him  Aholiab,  the  son  of  Ahisamach,  of  the  tribe  of  Dan :  and  in  the  hearts  of  all  that 
are  wise  hearted  I  have  put  wisdom,  that  they  may  make  all  that  I  have  commanded  thee ;  the 
tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  the  ark  of  the  testimony,  and  the  mercy  seat  that  is  thereupon, 
and  all  the  furniture  of  the  tabernacle,  and  the  table  and  his  furniture,  and  the  pure  candlestick 
with  all  his  furniture,  and  the  altar  of  incense,  and  the  altar  of  burnt  offering  with  all  his  furni- 
ture, and  the  laver  and  his  foot,  and  the  clothes  of  service,  and  the  holy  garments  for  Aaron  the 
priest,  and  the  garments  of  his  sons,  to  minister  in  the  priest's  office,  and  the  anointing  oil, 
and  sweet  incense  for  the  holy  place;  according  to  all  that  I  have  commanded  thee  shall  they 
do." — Exodus  xxxi:  /-//. 

IF  we  had  been  in  Egypt  while  Raamses  oppressed  the 
chosen  people,  we  might  have  expected  a  leader  to  be  raised 
to  lead  Israel  out  of  the  house  of  bondage,  according  to  the 
promise  that  had  been  made  to  Abraham.  It  might  also  have 
occurred  to  us  that  the  people  would  need  a  more  full  revela- 
tion of  the  law  of  God  than  had  yet  been  made,  for  their 
future  guidance ;  and  this  work  of  a  divine  deliverance  and 
divine  law-giving  we  should  have  called  spiritual,  and  felt  that 
the  man  who  was  called  to  perform  it  must  be  filled  with  the 
Spirit  of  God. 

We  should  have  had  the  same  feelings  respecting  the 
institution  of  an  elaborate  system  of  sacrifice  and  priestly 
service,  to  typify  our  great  High  Priest,  and  his  once  offering 
up  of  himself  as  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 
That  also  we  should  have  said  is  a  spiritual  work,  and  calls 
for  one  who  is  filled  with  the  Spirit.  But  perhaps  most  of 
us  would  have  been  ready  to  rely  on  such  architects,  gold- 


34  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

smiths,  lapidaries,  and  other  skilled  artisans  as  could  be  found 
in  the  multitude  that  came  up  out  of  Egypt  —  that  home  of 
architecture  and  art,  of  magnificent  temples  and  an  imposing 
ritual. 

Still  that  was  not  God's  plan.  He  provides  the  Michael 
Angelo  of  that  day,  calling  him  by  name  (Bezaleel)  just  as 
he  called  Moses  and  Aaron  at  that  time,  and  Cyrus  afterwards. 
Nor  that  only ;  but  fills  him  with  the  Spirit,  as  though  his 
work  called  for  the  most  thoroughly  spiritual  qualifications, 
and  that  not  only  in  wisdom  and  in  understanding  and  in 
knowledge,  but  in  all  manner  of  workmanship,  to  devise  elab- 
orate work  of  intricate  pattern  and  delicate  finish.  This 
varied  work  in  gold  and  silver,  in  brass  and  wood,  in  precious 
stones  and  costly  garments,  required  a  number  of  workmen  — 
for  one  man  could  not  be  equally  expert  in  so  many  things 
—  and  therefore  God  gave  to  Bezaleel  a  helpmeet  likewise 
called  by  name  (Aholiab);  then,  besides  both  of  these,  he 
leaves  it  on  record  that  he  put  wisdom  in  the  hearts  of  such 
as  were  wise-hearted,  on  purpose  that  they  might  make  all 
that  was  required  for  the  tabernacle  and  for  its  service. 

God  did  not  make  the  distinction  that  some  do  between 
intellectual  labor  and  the  skilled  labor  of  the  hands,  calling 
the  one  spiritual  and  the  other  secular,  but  when  both  were 
alike  necessary  for  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom,  and  both 
were  to  be  rendered  by  those  who  loved  that  kingdom  and 
loved  its  Lord,  he  calls  them  both  alike  spiritual,  the  one  as 
truly  as  the  other.  And  so,  we  say  it  reverently,  He  who  is 
both  Creator  and  Redeemer  was  as  truly  spiritual  in  creating 
the  gold  and  the  silver  and  the  precious  stones,  as  afterwards 
in  giving  his  life  a  ransom  for  many. 

This  record  before  us  is  very  instructive,  and  I  refer  to 
it  today  because  some  may  be  disposed  to  say  that  this  insti- 
tution was  founded  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  in  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  and  not  for  the  promotion  of  science.  What 
need,  then,  of  so  many  teachers  of  science,  or  of  original  inves- 
tigation along  the  lines  of  science  ?  We  might  ask,  in  reply, 


FUNERAL    SERMON.  35 

whether,  to  be  devout,  one  must  be  one-sided,  and  whether  a 
many  sided  knowledge  is  only  for  skeptics  and  unbelievers ; 
but  today,  in  the  presence  of  that  once  active  brain,  that  silent 
tongue,  and  these  sightless  eyes,  we  prefer  to  give  a  broader 
answer,  one  more  in  accord  with  the  thoughts  she  thinks 
today. 

What,  then,  is  science  ?  It  is  the  progressive  investigation 
of  the  principles  on  which  the  Lord  our  Saviour  proceeded 
in  the  work  of  creation  ;  or,  if  you  prefer  it,  the  successive  dis- 
covery of  those  principles  through  the  careful  study  of  things 
created. 

Take,  for  example,  the  science  of  music.  What  is  it  but 
the  searching  out  of  the  wonderful  properties  of,  and  the  har- 
monies existing  between,  various  sounds,  as  they  have  been 
endowed  by  the  Lord  Jesus  —  the  proportions  they  bear  to 
one  another,  their  correspondencies,  the  chords  of  which 
they  are  capable,  the  harmony  produced  by  the  accord  of 
simple  sounds,  and  then  the  multitudinous  music  produced 
by  the  harmonious  utterance  of  complex  classes  of  sounds 
with  a  rhythmic  movement  like  the  tramp  of  an  army  ?  Who 
planned  all  this  ?  Who  provided  the  materials  and  fitted 
them  to  produce  these  effects  ?  Who  ordained  the  laws 
according  to  which  these  effects  take  place  ?  Was  it  not  our 
Lord  and  our  Redeemer?  Handel  and  Haydn  discovered 
many  of  these  laws,  Beethoven  and  Mendelssohn  cooperated 
in  the  same  line  of  things,  and  perhaps  Sebastian  Bach  dug 
deepest  of  all ;  but  not  till  we  hear  the  songs  of  heaven,  in 
which  the  perfect  love  of  God  finds  perfect  expression,  not 
till  we  are  endowed  with  organs  of  hearing  harmonies  too- 
deep  and  rich  for  human  ears  to  appreciate,  shall  we  attain  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  perfection  of  music.  That  is  reserved 
for  the  immediate  presence  of  its  Creator  and  ours. 

So  also  I  might  speak  of  the  records  of  creation,  some  of 
the  leaves  of  which  have  been  found  in  the  valley  round  about 
us,  with  their  wonderful  inscriptions,  and  reverently  deposited 
in  yonder  basement,  to  rehearse  in  loving  ears  what  Christ 


36  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

did  before  man  was  formed,  and  how  he  laid  the  foundations 
of  these  hills. 

But  you  would  not  forgive  me  if  today  I  passed  over 
the  science  which  searches  out  the  laws  according  to  which 
Christ  created  the  flowers  of  the  field.  Not  only  because  our 
departed  friend  took  such  delight  in  tracing  them  out,  but 
because  He  also  found  enjoyment  in  them,  as  we  learn  from 
his  references  to  them  in  his  teaching  while  on  earth.  We 
can  never  forget  how  he  said,  "  Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field, 
how  they  grow ;  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin :  and  yet 
I  say  unto  you,  That  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not 
arrayed  like  one  of  these."  Nor  can  we  forget  how  many 
have  loved  to  think  of  him  as  the  Rose  of  Sharon  and  the  Lily 
of  the  valley. 

When  Miss  Shattuck  first  gathered  the  wild  flowers  in 
her  mountain  home,  her  thoughts  may  not  have  gone  beyond 
their  beauty  and  their  fragrance,  or  that,  having  gathered 
them,  now  they  belonged  to  her;  and  thus  she  may  have 
merely  gratified  a  taste  inherited  from  her  mother.  But  while 
engaged  in  instructing  the  children  of  her  native  town,  she 
felt  that  she  needed  Christ  to  help  her  to  do  them  good,  and 
she  went  to  him  for  grace  to  meet  her  responsibilities  as 
a  teacher  of  youth,  so  that  they  might  be  blest  of  him.  Thus 
when  she  came  to  this  institution  she  was  prepared  in  all  her 
own  studies  to  serve  him,  and  in  her  scientific  investigations, 
even  in  unorganized  forms  of  matter,  to  search  out  his  most 
wise  arrangements.  Especially  in  her  study  of  plant  life, 
.and  the  laws  he  had  given  for  its  development,  she  felt  that 
:she  trod  on  holy  ground,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Author 
-of  that  life.  In  tracing  out  those  laws  she  seemed  to  follow 
;the  footprints  of  the  Lord,  and  discerned  the  marks  of  his 
wisdom  and  his  love.  I  do  not  know,  but  I  have  a  deep 
^conviction,  that  more  than  one  mountain-pasture  and  secluded 
.grove  may  have  witnessed  such  communion  between  Christ 
and  her  as  the  bush  at  Horeb  once  witnessed  between  God 
and  Moses. 


FUNERAL   SERMON.  37 

I  know  that  in  the  cross  we  find  the  great  love  wherewith 
Christ  has  loved  us,  but  we  appreciate  it  better  when  we  have 
learned  how,  in  ordinary  things,  he  crowns  us  with  loving* 
kindness  ;  and  when  we  have  learned  to  value  the  cross,  we  go 
back  prepared  to  understand  better  every  manifestation  of  his 
love.  Some  may  be  impatient  of  the  attention  here  paid  to 
science,  and  demand  that  all  thought  be  concentered  exclusively 
on  the  cross.  "  Exclusively  on  Christ"  we  grant ;  but  Christ  is 
seen  in  the  works  of  his  hands,  as  well  as  in  redemption. 
Mary  Lyon  did  not  present  the  gospel  with  less  power 
because  she  had  been  thorough  in  the  class-room,  nor  was 
she  unfitted  for  teaching  science  by  her  love  to  the  Creator 
whose  footsteps  it  disclosed.  Miss  Fiske  did  not  find  Nesto- 
rian  girls  less  susceptible  to  the  gospel  through  the  drill  of 
the  school,  nor  did  they  find  that  love  to  Christ  unfitted  them 
to  study.  And  some  here  today  can  testify  that  Miss  Shat- 
tuck's  interest  in  science  did  not  lessen  the  spiritual  power  of 
those  meetings  she  used  to  hold,  or  detract  from  the  spiritual 
force  of  the  truths  she  then  set  forth  in  a  manner  never  to 
be  forgotten. 

Yea,  at  this  hour  it  is  not  unfitting  to  remember  that, 
much  as  Christ  blesses  us  with  all  spiritual  blessings  in 
heavenly  places,  this  does  not  hinder  his  upholding  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power.  What  would  our  closets  or  our 
churches  be  were  Christ  absent  from  either  ?  and  what  would 
become  of  the  whole  frame  of  nature  should  he  for  one 
moment  withdraw  his  hand  ?  Then  it  is  fitting  that  this 
institution,  founded  to  train  up  our  daughters  for  the  service 
of  Christ,  should  follow  the  example  of  the  Master,  and,  while 
it  magnifies  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  should  rejoice  if 
any  of  its  teachers  are  leaders,  not  followers  only,  searching 
out  those  laws  which  the  Lord  enacted  so  long  ago,  and  still 
administers  in  the  world  which  he  has  made.  There  is  no- 
lack  of  land  yet  to  be  possessed.  Take,  in  the  science  to 
which  Miss  Shattuck  devoted  herself  so  enthusiastically,  the 
whole  subject  of  the  colors  of  flowers  and  their  relations  to- 


38  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

light,  and  other  natural  forces.  It  was  the  glory  of  Miss 
Shattuck  that  she  so  thoroughly  devoted  herself  to  the  dis- 
covery of  those  manifestations  of  himself  that  Christ  has 
made  in  the  works  of  his  hands. 

I  well  remember  the  first  time  I  saw  her  when  a  pupil 
here.  She  was,  I  should  judge,  the  oldest  in  the  class,  in  the 
twenty-seventh  year  of  her  age  ;  but  then,  as  twenty-five  years 
later  on  the  island  of  Penikese,  she  was  not  too  old  to  learn, 
and  as  in  1873  Professor  Agassiz  took  special  interest  in  his 
venerable  pupil,  conspicuous  for  her  white  hair  and  massive 
forehead  —  just  as  then  he  recognized  in  her  a  congenial  spirit, 
having  a  devotion  to  science  that  claimed  kinship  with  his 
own  —  so,  in  1848,  her  intellectual  force  and  enthusiasm 
impressed  all  that  saw  her.* 

Immediately  on  her  graduation  the  pupil  that  showed 
such  devotion  to  study,  nor  that  only  but  at  once  cooperated 
intelligently  with  Mary  Lyon  while  she  lived,  and  watched 
night  after  night  by  her  dying  bed,  was  made  a  teacher  in  this 
institution.  During  all  the  forty  years  of  her  life  here  she 
pressed  forward  in  the  knowledge  of  His  wondrous  works,  that 
she  might  be  better  able  to  serve  her  Lord,  and  the  large 
botanical  collections  in  Williston  Hall  will  long  remain  a 
monument  of  her  diligence  and  devotion  to  her  favorite 
science. 

There  is  an  ungodly  spirit  that  magnifies  science,  and 
ignores  the  Lord,  without  whom  there  could  be  no  science, 
though  every  natural  law  bears  testimony  to  Him  who  gave  it ; 
and  at  the  other  extreme  there  is  a  spirit  —  we  cannot  call 
it  ungodly,  though  too  often  it  works  in  the  interest  of  ungodli- 
ness— -which  makes  redemption  a  shibboleth,  and  cannot  see 
aught  else  in  the  heaven  above  or  in  the  earth  beneath,  till 
thoughtful  minds  turn  away  weary  of  its  unvarying  monotony. 
Miss  Shattuck  neither  ignored  Christ,  nor  confined  her 


*  There  is  a  photograph,  that  gives  her  face  in  profile,  which  at  once  sug- 
gests some  portraits  of  George  Washington, 


FUNERAL    SERMON.  39 

thoughts  to  one  of  his  acts,  however  glorious,  but  sought  to 
look  on  him  as  he  reveals  himself  in  his  Word,  and  also  in  the 
variety  and  fullness  of  his  works.  So,  reflecting  like  a  mirror 
the  glory  of  the  Lord,  she  was  changed  into  the  same  image 
from  glory  to  glory.  It  was  thus  she  attained  to  her  immense 
influence  for  good ;  and  God  gave  her  a  worthy  field  for  its 
exercise  in  bringing  her  into  contact  with  the  thousands  of 
students  who  went  forth  from  this  center  of  good  influences 
during  more  than  forty  years.  That  was  a  field  of  usefulness 
which  any  one  might  covet,  and  how  well  she  improved  it  is 
seen  in  the  estimation  in  which  she  was  held  by  those  stu- 
dents. They  so  associated  her  with  their  alma  mater  that 
they  could  not  think  of  one  apart  from  the  other. 

She  was  never  principal  or  associate  principal,  though 
such  titles  have  been  talked  of  for  her;  with  characteristic 
modesty  she  preferred  her  old  position.  Her  aim  was  to  be, 
not  to  seem  to  be.  She  sought  real  excellence,  not  a  reputa- 
tion for  its  possession.  Her  power  lay  in  what  she  was,  and 
not  in  the  office  which  she  filled.  She  coveted  no  honors, 
and  needed  nothing  extraneous  to  secure  for  her  the  honor 
that  is  always  given  to  genuine  worth;  and  yet  no  one  was 
more  disposed  than  she  was  to  rest  wholly  on  the  grace  of 
God,  and  to  feel  that  all  her  sufficiency  was  of  him. 

A  stranger  would  have  picked  her  out  on  the  seminary 
platform  as  one  of  its  most  worthy  occupants.  It  was  not 
merely  the  large  physique,  or  the  spacious  "dome  of  thought," 
or  the  venerable  whiteness  of  her  hair,  though  the  scripture 
that  associates  the  hoary  head  with  a  crown  of  glory  never 
had  a  more  striking  fulfillment.  It  was  no  one  of  these 
things,  nor  all  combined,  but  it  was  the  unconscious  going 
forth  through  all  these  of  the  personality  within,  that  made 
her  presence  so  impressive.  On  anniversaries  the  first  in- 
quiry of  the  returning  graduate  was  for  Miss  Shattuck,  and 
to  shake  hands  with  her  was  to  feel  once  more  at  home  within 
these  walls.  It  was  a  spontaneous  impulse,  both  among 
teachers  and  trustees,  first  of  all  to  consult  with  her  about  the 


40  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

introduction  of  anything  new  into  seminary  arrangements. 
If  the  seminary  is  indebted  mainly  to  the  benefaction  of 
another  for  the  magnificent  hall  under  the  walnut  tree,  it  is 
to  Miss  Shattuck,  and  her  scientific  enthusiasm,  that  it  owes 
both  the  idea  and  the  need  of  such  a  structure. 

We  cannot  help  noting  that  she  who  cared  so  lovingly 
for  the  last  hours  of  Miss  Lyon  found  others  equally  loving 
to  care  for  hers,  though  we  may  not  intrude  on  the  sacred 
intimacy  of  so  many  years,  that  found  its  highest  privilege  in 
that  loving  service. 

All,  and  especially  the  absent  ones  who  read  these  lines, 
will  like  to  know  that  her  end  was  peace.  She  seemed  to 
dwell  on  the  familiar  line, 

"Safe  into  the  haven  guide," 

and  at  the  very  last  a  smiling  look,  as  on  one  approaching  from 
a  distance,  seemed  to  be  the  recognition  of  Him  who  said, 
"  If  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  /  will  come  again,  and 
receive  you  unto  myself" 

If  one  lesson  stamps  itself  on  our  hearts  today,  it  is : 
"Acquaint  yourselves  with  Christ  as  revealed  in  his  Word 
and  in  his  works.  Devote  yourselves  to  his  service,  and  he 
will  care  for  all  that  pertains  to  your  well  being  in  this  life, 
and  in  the  life  to  come." 

"Them  that  honor  me,  I  will  honor." 


TRIBUTES. 


(By  Rev.  J.  L.  R.  Trask,  Springfield,  November  9,  1889.] 

"  IT  was  an  honor  to  be  allowed  to  take  part  in  the  funeral 
services  of  Miss  Shattuck.  She  was  a  rare  and  strong  woman, 
whose  very  gentleness  was  strength.  Her  manner  was  always 
sweet  and  gracious,  and  therefore  of  a  kind  one  loves  to  remember 
and  recall. 

"  It  was  peculiarly  fitting  that  she  could  close  her  life  in  the 
mkist  of  the  halls  that  had  been  a  home  to  her  for  so  many  long 
and  happy  years.  She  has  been  a  loyal  friend  to  the  school,  and  I 
wish  that  some  building  might  be  named  in  memory  of  her." 

(By  the  Boston  Association  of  Holyoke  Alumna,  November  23,  1889.) 

"  Whereas,  in  the  providence  of  God,  death  has  called  to  her 
heavenly  reward  Miss  Lydia  W.  Shattuck,  so  long  our  senior  pro- 
fessor, thus  bereaving  us  of  a  very  dear  friend  and  the  college  of 
a  valued  instructor,  therefore  : 

"Resolved,  that  to  the  trustees  and  faculty  of  the  institution 
to  which  for  thirty-eight  years  she  so  lovingly  and  cheerfully  gave 
her  life,  we  testify  our  hearty  appreciation  of  what  she  was  as  a 
true,  earnest,  and  Christian  woman ;  of  what  she  was  as  a  teacher, 
thorough  and  progressive,  who  by  her  enthusiasm  and  her  devo- 
tion to  science  not  only  fitted  students  for  advanced  work  else- 
where, but  by  her  own  attainments  gained  for  herself  and  for  the 
scientific  department  of  the  college  recognition  among  the  best 
educators  of  the  land.  And  we  recognize  most  gratefully  her  per- 
sistent and  successful  efforts  in  advancing  the  material  interests  of 
the  college." 

(By  the  same  Association,  November  23,  1889.) 

"Resolved,  that  we  enter  earnestly  into  the  effort  to  raise 
money  for  the  new  scientific  building,  and  desire  that  it  should 
be  called  The  Lydia  W.  Shattuck  Hall." 


42  LYDIA   W.    SHATTUCK. 


(By  Rev.  N.  G.  Clark,  D.  D.,  Boston,  February  20, 

"Allow  me  to  express  the  great  satisfaction  with  which  I  hear 
of  the  commemorative  services  on  the  part  of  the  Boston  Alumnae. 
Miss  Shattuck  was  fully  deserving  of  this  generous  and  kindly  con- 
sideration. She  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  her  in 
the  particular  department  of  science  to  which  she  devoted  herself, 
while  her  Christian  spirit  was  honored  by  all  who  had  the  pleasure 
of  her  personal  acquaintance.  Mount  Holyoke  will  never  forget 
her  memory,  nor  her  services  to  science  and  the  cause  of  Christ  in 
connection  with  that  institution." 


(By  Mrs.  L.  A.  P.  New,  for  the  Moimt  Holyoke  Alumnce  Association 
for  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and  vicinity,  April  ig,  1890.} 

Miss  SHATTUCK. 

As  when  some  precious  seed  lies  hidden 

Beneath  the  stones  and  clay, 
It  sighs  and  fears  itself  unbidden 

To  reach  the  light  of  day, 
And  lingers  long  within  the  earth 
Ere  force  of  Nature  gives  it  birth  ; 

And  slow  of  growth,  but  strong  and  surely 

Because  of  depth  of  hold, 
It  reaches  prime,  and  sweet  and  purely 

Its  blossoms  turn  to  gold 
Of  ripened  fruitage,  rich  and  rare, 
And  crowns  with  fragrance  all  the  air  -, 

So  she,  of  whom  we  speak  today 

In  kindly,  loving  thought, 
From  humblest  sources  made  her  way, 

A  flower  unseen,  unsought ; 
But  strong  in  faith  that  God  commanded, 
No  buried  treasure  back  she  handed. 


TRIBUTES.  43 

Lived  not  in  vain  ;  on  many  a  mind 

She  wrote  with  lasting  trace  ; 
She  taught  from  lowliest  flower  to  find 

The  imprint  of  God's  face. 
From  rocks  and  stones  a  lesson  read, 
And  felt  ground  holy,  mortals  tread. 

A  poet,  though  rarely  in  words  did  she  rhyme ; 

An  artist,  though  modest  her  brush ; 
In  science  a  master;  she  saw  the  sublime 

In  Nature  ;  in  the  stillness  and  hush 
She  put  off  her  shoes,  forever  adoring 
Her  God  in  his  works,  and  his  grace  imploring. 

In  the  lap  of  the  Nature  she  loved,  she  lies ; 

Her  spirit  beholds  now  His  face  ; 
Immanuel's  land  !  with  purified  eyes 

She  sees  all  its  beauty  and  grace. 
Her  message  comes  back  from  'neath  the  green  sod, 
That  Nature  and  Science,  translated,  mean  God. 

(By  y.  T.  Rothrock,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Botany,  University  of 
Pennsylvania^) 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  a  printed  memorial  of  the  late  Miss 
Lydia  W.  Shattuck  is  contemplated.  It  is  desirable  not  more  as 
due  her,  than  as  an  encouragement  and  inspiration  to  those  who 
follow  her. 

"I  first  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Shattuck  in  1861,  and 
time  only  serves  to  confirm  the  impression  produced  by  that 
earliest  meeting.  She  was  patient,  thorough,  and  keen  in  her 
observation ;  never,  so  far  as  I  know,  leading  any  one  into  error 
by  premature  statement  of  supposed  facts,  or  by  drawing  hasty 
generalizations  from  too  slender  data.  Her  love  of  nature  was 
genuine,  and  without  regard  to  gain  accruing  from  professional 
knowledge.  In  a  word,  hers  was  a  character  to  profoundly  and 
rightly  impress  younger  minds.  Her  sympathy  was  so  palpably 
real  that  they  must  have  continued  to  love  her,  respect  her,  and  be 
guided  by  her. 


44  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

"  I  never  thought  of  her  without  admiration  of  her  persistent 
devotion  to  her  life  work,  and  without  being  thankful  for  the 
privilege  of  knowing  her.  I  am  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  add 
my  single  leaf  as  a  contribution  to  her  crown." 

(By  Professor  Charles  H.  Hitchcock,  Ph.D.,  Dartmouth  College^ 

"I  have  known  Miss  Shattuck  from  the  beginning  of  her 
labors  at  South  Hadley ;  at  first  when  I  was  a  boy,  and  afterward 
on  terms  of  greater  equality  and  of  friendship.  Of  her  sterling 
virtues  of  Christian  character,  and  readiness  at  all  times  to  be 
known  as  a  follower  of  Christ,  it  is  not  needful  that  I  should  speak ; 
for  they  are  well  known. 

"  I  knew  her  as  an  uncommonly  successful  teacher  of  science, 
whether  it  be  her  favorite  botany,  chemistry,  or  astronomy.  She 
succeeded  in  imparting  enthusiasm  to  her  pupils.  Part  of  her  suc- 
cess was  due  to  the  thorough  mastery  of  her  subject  herself. 

"  It  was  my  privilege  to  enjoy  her  company  in  a  journey  to  the 
Hawaiian  Islands  in  1886.  It  was  necessary  to  'rough  it 'some- 
what in  such  localities  as  the  Agate  Park  of  Arizona,  the  Grand 
Canon  of  the  Colorado,  and  the  remoter  parts  of  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  but  she  always  noted  whatever  was  agreeable  in  our  expe- 
riences, as  if  everything  were  pleasant.  While  driving  through 
the  Agate  Park  she  identified  the  coniferous  character  of  the  petri- 
fied logs  by  very  simple  observations  which  the  rest  of  us  had 
overlooked.  In  the  Grand  Canon  we  saw  plants  of  the  Mexican 
type,  such  as  the  Fouquiera,  with  its  spreading,  thorny,  stubbed 
branches,  and  brilliant  terminal  spike.  This  of  itself,  as  was  said 
by  Professor  Asa  Gray  the  year  previous,  was  a  sight  worth  all  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  the  journey  thither.  With  very  few  books 
of  reference,  Miss  Shattuck  made  out  the  many  species  of  solanum, 
of  composite,  of  cacti  and  borages  growing  in  the  canon  with  a 
skill  and  enthusiasm  showing  herself  a  master  in  the  science. 

"  In  California  she  spent  some  time  at  Mills  College,  and  in 
Honolulu  was  with  Miss  Spooner  at  Oahu  College.  At  the  Islands 
we  journeyed  together  to  Hilo  and  to  Kauai.  She  could  not 
endure  the  fatigue  of  the  horseback  journey  to  the  great  volcano 
Kilauea,  but  was  more  fortunate  than  the  rest  of  us,  the  following 
February,  when  she  joined  the  steamer  party  who  witnessed  the 


TRIBUTES.  45 

magnificent  volcanic  display  at  Kahuka,  at  the  base  of  Mauna  Loa. 
Wherever  we  went  she  determined  the  names  of  plants  brought  to 
her,  so  far  as  could  be  done  in  the  absence  of  proper  manuals. 

"  Before  her  return  home  she  went  to  Maui,  to  the  East  Maui 
Seminary  for  girls,  and  also  climbed  to  Olinda,  on  the  flanks  of 
Haleakala.  Everywhere  she  proved  herself  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary,  and  persuaded  some  young 
ladies  to  go  there  for  their  education. 

"The  Master  will  say  of  her  work,  'Well  and  faithfully 
done.' " 

(By  Professor  Charles  A.  Young,  LL.D.,  of  Princeton  College^ 

"  I  esteemed  Miss  Shattuck  very  highly,  and  feel  her  Loss 
almost  as  that  of  a  favorite  sister.  I  did  not  agree  with  her  in  all 
her  ways  of  looking  at  things,  nor  in  all  her  judgments  of  what 
would  be  best  in  the  management  and  development  of  the  institu- 
tion ;  but  I  always  found  her  reasonable,  sincere,  and  disinterested, 
willing  to  spend  and  be  spent  to  the  utmost  of  her  ability  in  carry- 
ing out  her  duty  as  she  saw  it.  She  was  one  of  the  most  sincere 
and  consistent  Christians  I  have  ever  known,  and  she  had  a  win- 
ning, unobtrusive  manner  and  a  sweetness  of  temper  that  made 
her  a  delightful  companion  —  qualities  that  do  not  always  go  with 
a  conscientious  character,  but  which,  when  they  do,  add  wonderful 
loveliness  to  it. 

"When  I  first  knew  her,  more  than  twenty  years  ago,  she  was 
a  power  in* the  seminary,  full  of  enthusiasm  in  her  favorite  science, 
and  a  teacher  who  was  able  to  make  her  pupils  share  her  enthu- 
siasm with  her. 

"Others  can  speak  better  than  I  of  her  attainments  as  a  bota- 
nist and  student  of  -natural  history.  I  only  know  that  they  were 
remarkable  for  the  time,  and  that  then  there  were  very  few  women 
in  the  country  who  could  be  ranked  with  her  in  that  respect.  She 
was  almost  a  pioneer  in  such  studies,  and  enjoyed  the  friendship 
and  correspondence  of  Gray  and  the  elder  Agassiz.  Her  influence 
will  long  be  felt  for  good,  not  only  at  South  Hadley,  but  by  all  who 
ever  knew  her  anywhere." 


46  LYDIA   W.  SHATTUCK. 

GERMAN-TOWN,  PENNSYLVANIA,  May  13,  1890. 

Dear  Mrs.  Stow:  On  account  of  my  absence,  I  only  received 
your  letter  about  Miss  Shattuck  a  day  or  two  since.  I  trust  my 
answer  will  be  in  time,  for  it  is  a  great  pleasure  for  me  to  bear  my 
testimony  to  her  admirable  qualities.  I  remember  Miss  Shattuck 
in  our  first  summer  at  Penikese,  as  one  who  gave  character  to  our 
little  community  by  her  earnestness  in  work,  her  trained  powers  of 
study  and  observation,  and  her  high  standard  in  all  questions, 
whether  moral  or  intellectual.  She  won  the  respect  and  affection 
both  of-  teachers  and  students,  and  we  looked  upon  her  presence 
there  as  a  help  to  us  all. 

Thanking  you  for  giving  me  this  opportunity  of  expressing  my 
appreciation  of  her,  I  am 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

ELIZABETH  C.  AGASSIZ. 


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